Barry’s also an author. His first book, a memoir, My Journey to Blue Sky, was published in March 2025. He and I chatted about My Journey to Blue Sky during our first conversation. You can find that episode on storybeat.net, wherever you listen to podcasts, and on YouTube.

Barry’s second book is a novel called All You Need Is Courage, which I thoroughly enjoyed reading. It tells the fictional tale of a young songwriter who meets and works with his heroes, The Beatles, during their heyday. The saga has more than a few parallels to Barry’s own history. If you enjoy stories about hardworking artists triumphing in the music business, I highly urge you to read All You Need Is Courage. You may find it to be truly inspirational.

Barry’s also written music for a documentary he produced called My Day in Auschwitz.  A selection from the film, The Gate, was published in the Yad Vashem 2025 coffee table book, Lessons from the Shoah.

Please stick around at the end of this episode because Barry has generously lent us his fantastic song, The Beautiful Band, which we’ll play for your listening pleasure.

Doug has written, produced and directed over 1000 hours of network and syndicated radio programming that’s been heard by millions around the world as well as creating several thousand radio commercials and promos. He’s worked with major celebrity hosts like John Candy, Ringo Starr, Grammy Award winning music producer David Foster and Rock & Roll Hall of Fame member Graham Nash.

In television, he wrote and directed over 30 documentaries, including “Hi-Fi Salutes” and “Hitsville U.S. Eh!” about Motown with a Canadian perspective.

Doug has won 154 awards for his work in both radio and TV. He’s taught broadcasting at Seneca College in Toronto for 10 years, and he’s currently the chair of the Canadian Broadcast Museum Foundation.

He’s best known for various TV roles in shows like Charmed, Felicity, Drake and Josh, The Disney Channel’s Jump In, and recently in season one of The Pitt. 

Film roles include Malcolm X, After the Sunset, Circle, Poseidon, and most recently, The Accountant 2.

You may have also seen David from his appearances in over 200 commercials.

For the record, David played the voice of Lucky, in the movie called Lucky that I directed and co-produced. He suavely and coolly played an evil little dog that haunts the twisted mind of animation writer Millard Mudd, who was played by a favorite StoryBeat guest, and the movie’s co-producer, Michael Emanuel. Without David’s unique and spot-on voicing of Lucky, the movie wouldn’t have turned out as amazingly well.

David is the father of four children, three incredibly wonderful daughters, and stage and screen star, Corbin Bleu.

Stephen’s first production was Dodsworth starring Hal Linden. His Off-Broadway musicals include After the Fair, The Road to Qatar and Inventing Mary Martin. He won the prestigious Kleban Award for The Night of the Hunter. And Saturday Night at Grossinger’s had successful runs in Dallas, LA, Florida, and Sonoma.

Broadway legend Chita Rivera toured in Casper, which was reborn as Casper-The Friendly Musical. Merman's Apprentice, premiered at Birdland in New York and won the San Francisco Drama Critics Circle Award for Best Score. Stephen's latest musical, Goin’ Hollywood, had its world premiere at WaterTower Theatre in Texas.

His published books include That Book About That Girl, I Could Have Sung All Night, and MARY & ETHEL…and Mikey Who? which we talked about during Stephen’s last appearance on this show.  His current theatrical memoir, Camelton, also doubles as his one-man show, which played to sold-out crowds in New York.

I’ve read Camelton, and can tell you it’s a terrifically entertaining account of Stephen’s extraordinarily challenging time writing a musical celebration for the Emir of Qatar. His reminiscence captures all the crazy sturm und drang of creating a massive musical under commission in a foreign land.

On camera, Natalie has had recurring guest star roles on The Middle, Lopez, and Major Crimes. Other guest-starring credits include Grey’s Anatomy, Étoile, 13 Reasons Why, 9-1-1: Lone Star, Castle, Hannah Montana, and more.

She voiced “Goldie” on Disney Jr.’s Goldie & Bear and “Stargirl” in DC’s Justice League franchise. She’s also voiced roles in prominent video games such as Saints Row, Final Fantasy, God of War, and Fire Emblem.

If you were a fan of the MTV competition show Legally Blonde: The Search for Elle Woods, you may remember Natalie, who placed fifth in her effort to play Elle Woods on Broadway. She later wrote a one-woman show about that experience, Legally Brunette: The Search for Myself, which has had both West Coast and East Coast premieres.

Most recently, Natalie completed a run of her new show, Earth to Squiggy, at the Garry Marshall Theatre, in Burbank, California, which she co-wrote, and is set to the music of her father and Michael McKean, who played Lenny on Laverne & Shirley.

For the record, I’ve known Natalie for a couple of decades from when she sang on a demo of a song I wrote and produced with the composer, Rachael Lawrence.

David co-created The Wild Thornberrys, which spawned two feature films: The Wild Thornberrys Movie and Rugrats Go Wild. Other feature films David has co-written include Stepping Out, Purple Haze, and The Flintstones Movie.

As a Stanford-educated psychotherapist, David’s treated and coached aspiring writers, many of whom have gone on to sell their own feature films and TV shows.

David and his wife Rogena, who is also a writer and editor, recently collaborated on their excellent book, How to Be a Rockstar Screenwriter, which contains some of the best advice I’ve read on the mindset that ambitious screen and TV writers need to succeed. Unlike most books on screenwriting, How to Be a Rockstar Screenwriter is filled with solid advice for those dealing with the challenging psychological issues facing writers who wish to work in Hollywood, as well as for those who are already successful screenwriters.  I urge anyone hoping to make it as a professional writer in Hollywood to check out this very wise book.

For the record, David and I have known one another for many decades, connected by our mutual friend, the late, great Steve Sustarsic. David and Steve were a well-known, highly successful sit-com writing team. They wrote and produced hundreds of TV scripts together.

She’s received a Drama Desk nomination, as well as an L.A. Ovation & NAACP Award for her work.

On Broadway, Christine debuted in Little Me with Martin Short and Faith Prince, directed by a favorite StoryBeat guest, Rob Marshall. Other Broadway appearances include several peculiar offstage callers in Eric Bogosian’s Talk Radio, starring Liev Schreiber, and a turn as Mama Morton in the long-running hit, Chicago.

She brought her collection of divas to Off-Broadway’s Newsical the Musical, and starred in Spamilton: An American Parody, which she also co-produced.

And many of you will know Christine from her long-running daily SiriusXM Radio show Broadway Breakfast on the On Broadway channel playing music of the stage & screen and interviewing Show Biz legends Mon-Fri, 9am-3pm. On Saturdays she and Seth Rudetsky co-host Dueling Divas.  And fans of Howard Stern can hear her provide the occasional celebrity voice on his SiriusXM morning show.

Other Off-Broadway performances include: the title role in Miss Abigail’s Guide to Dating Mating and Marriage, A Broadway Diva Christmas, Jerry’s Girls, and My Favorite Year.

Christine’s performed her cabaret show, Great Dames, at many major New York venues, winning both the New York Bistro & Nitelife Awards. Her holiday show, There’s No Bizness Like Snow Bizness, has been an annual New York staple since 2008. She's even performed for President & Mrs. Clinton, playing a singing Hillary!

On TV, you may recognize Christine on The Sopranos as Mrs. Bobby Baccala (4 scenes, 5 lines...dead). But she recently escaped the clutches of Dr. Death on NBC.

Be sure to check out Christine’s popular, hilarious videos on YouTube, especially her “Shit Liza Says” videos. It’s brilliant, laugh-out-loud stuff.

Last but not least, and closest to my heart, Christine can be found singing on the well-regarded 1994 double-CD Complete Work recording of Jekyll & Hyde, the Musical, featuring Anthony Warlow, Linda Eder and Carolee Carmello.

Ron has acted in numerous Korean TV dramas and motion pictures like Operation Chromite, portraying Admiral Forrest Sherman opposite Liam Neeson’s General Douglas MacArthur. 

In 2025 Ron published his alternate-history apocalyptic doomsday thriller novel, Of Ashes and Dust, which was a Finalist for the Chanticleer International Book Award in the Global Thrillers category.

I’ve read Of Ashes and Dust and can tell you it’s a highly entertaining story that explores the anarchy of an apocalyptic future that includes revelations about UFOs and governmental conspiracies all set against a crumbling society. If you enjoy reading about the potential societal challenges a deteriorating world may face, I highly recommend Ron’s insight-filled book to you.

Ron is also the recipient of The POET Magazine’s “Poet of the Month” award for his contributions.  Also, check out for his book A Poetic Rhapsody of the Soul, which is published by Windtree Press. 

As an Associate Professor of English, English as a Second Language, and Humanities, Ron taught at the University of Maryland Global Campus-Asia. Ron resides in South Korea with his wife where he works on US military installations assisting US military retirees and dependents.   

After leaving the TV industry to raise her boys, Leslie obtained a master's degree in nutrition and ran her own business for ten years.

She’s been published over twenty times in the Huffington Post and speaks on panels discussing female empowerment.

Leslie’s debut novel, After Happily Ever After, has won over fifteen awards, and her second novel, The Stories We Cannot Tell, has won eleven awards.

Her latest novel, When People Leave, was released in May 2025. I’ve read When People Leave and can tell you it’s a highly engaging, superbly crafted tale about death, grief, and the unraveling of a family mystery that involves three sisters going on the road together, all told with a light touch and great heart.

I’ve read Sin and Bones and can tell you it’s an exciting dark fantasy story about a teenage girl dealing with all the difficulties involved in growing up while facing supernatural forces and influences that create unusual challenges for her to overcome.

For the record, Paige and I met while she was a student at Point Park University, and I was one of her screenwriting professors.  Paige has the distinction of being the very first of my former students to appear as a guest on StoryBeat.  And I couldn’t be more proud or pleased. Truthfully, for me, this is a milestone moment.

The series began with The Adventures of Jelly Bean, which first came to Amy when her fourth-grade teacher asked her to get up in front of the class and tell stories about Jelly Bean, which she would make up as she went along. Several years later she began writing down the Jelly Bean stories, and would work on them periodically in any free time she had during her teaching career and while raising her three children.

The second in the series, The Further Adventures of Jelly Bean, was followed up by The Still Further Adventures of Jelly Bean, which I’ve read. It’s a charming take on the emotional challenges confronting Jelly Bean as she tries to navigate through the relentless turmoil of growing up.  She tries to work out relationships with her friends, her parents, her older brothers, and her uncle among others. Jelly Bean’s parents don’t want her best friend, who is of mixed race, to visit. Another friend is anorexic. One brother drops out of school. A grandparent dies. In other words, it’s about the struggles many young girls face as they grow up.

Amy earned advanced degrees from the University of Pennsylvania Graduate School of Education and NYU. For six years Amy was a professor of writing, and a teacher in the tutoring center at Montclair State University.

Pat released his first poetry collection, Echoes Lost in Stars, in March 2024. To date, it’s garnered significant critical acclaim. In 2025, Pat released Life Sucks: Memories and Introspections During the Great Covid Lockdown, a compilation of satirical essays written during the pandemic.

I’ve read Life Sucks and can tell you it’s a witty, acerbic, wry look at life and its many foibles as viewed through Pat Conway’s unique lens on the world. If you like satire written with tongue firmly placed in cheek, I highly recommend Life Sucks to you.

A two-time Pushcart Nominee, Pat also has served as the 2024-25 Poet-in-Residence for the online literary journal, The Fictional Café. He finds fascination in words birthed from dark, literate, and emotive places.

 David spent 35 years in politics and government. He served in the Federal Senior Executive Service as Senior Adviser/Director of Speechwriting for the Secretaries of Transportation, Commerce, and Education; Editorial Director for the U.S. Small Business Administration; and Assistant Administrator for the U.S. General Services Administration’s Office of Communications and Citizen Services. David also worked as a press secretary/speechwriter to Members of Congress. 

During our first conversation, we discussed Mapping Night. Recently, I read 2 of David’s newest books, Squinting at Shadows and Thy Brother’s Keeper, both of which are in the thriller mold of David’s earlier novels They are intense, page-turning mysteries that kept me wondering what would happen next.  If you like reading thrillers, I highly urge you to check out David’s books.

A long-standing friendship with “Year of the Cat” singer-songwriter, Al Stewart, along with owning his hometown Bournemouth’s original vintage vinyl shop led to Jon experiencing many aspects of the UK music industry.

The recently released updated version of Jon’s book Bournemouth A Go! Go! – A Sixties Memoir features meeting the Beatles in 1963 at the height of Beatlemania in England. Jon also explores his ringside seat for the journey of his close friend, Al Stewart, from playing guitar in a local beat group to international success and hit double platinum albums in the ‘70s.  

I’ve read the revised version of Bournemouth A Go! Go! and can tell you it’s a fascinating, fun look at what life was like in England during the heady, music-filled ‘60s and ‘70s when everything in the culture was rapidly changing, and possibilities abounded. If you’re interested in the beginning of modern rock and pop music in England, and the early years of Al Stewart’s career in particular, I highly recommend Bournemouth A Go! Go! to you.

In 2024, Jon also published Chain Reaction – Rock ‘n’ Pop’s Magic Moments, which we chatted about during his first appearance on StoryBeat.  

A native of Richmond, Virginia, Thomas studied history and ran track at Furman University in Greenville, South Carolina, from which he was recently awarded an honorary doctorate.

Thomas is also an accomplished writer. For more than ten years, he regularly published op-eds and essays in national and regional media outlets until his appointment to the bench made publishing further such articles prohibitive.

However, he didn’t stop writing. In 2025, he published his first novel, Charlie-Man, which I’ve read and can tell you is a beautifully written, fictional coming-of-age story that reads like a powerful, heartfelt memoir. Charlie-Man is for readers of all ages, from teens on up. It will have a strong resonance for anyone who has ever struggled with love and loss throughout their teenage years.

Art’s memoir, Constant Comedy: "How I Started Comedy Central and Lost My Sense of Humor", was a finalist in the 2020 Best Book Awards in both the memoir and business categories.

Art has had short stories, nonfiction, and satire published in several journals, including The Lowestoft Chronicle, Aethlon: The Journal of Sports Literature, The Ocotillo Review, Fiction Southeast, Castabout Arts and Literature, High Shelf Press, and Writers Read.

Art recently published his first novel, "What She’s Hiding", which I’ve read and found to be an action-packed legal-noir-thriller with some terrific surprises and twists. If you like John Grisham, then you’ll enjoy "What She’s Hiding".

Rusty broke into Hollywood as a freelance electrician on dozens of movies, including Terminator 2. After a few years, he decided to give up movies because everything in the lighting and grip department weighed no less than 50 pounds.

He then spent 35 years producing reality TV shows like: Real Stories of the Highway Patrol, Big Brother, Survivor, Nanny 911, COPS, and Hell’s Kitchen, which he worked on for 16 seasons, and from which he retired in 2018.

His books include: Baseball’s Unlikely: A Constant; Dave and Me; and four children’s books: The Carrot Is Orange, The Unicorn Has One Horn, Beware The Grizzly Bear, and An Awesome Bird: The Pelican.  I’ve read An Awesome Bird: The Pelican, and can tell you it’s a wonderfully charming compendium of Rusty’s short and sweet poems about lots of different animals set against whimsical artwork created by middle schoolers from Cathedral City, CA.  If you have kids and are looking for a truly entertaining and educational book, I highly urge you to check it out.

Brad has performed in more than 15 shows on Broadway, including being in the original casts of the stage version of Schmigadoon, Mrs. Doubtfire, Big Fish, Aspects of Love, and a show I know a little bit about called Jekyll & Hyde. He’s performed in Wicked, Nice Work If You Can Get It, The Addams Family, and Spamalot. He’s also starred in The Producers in both the West End and Las Vegas productions.

National tours in which Brad has performed include: The Phantom of the Opera, Young Frankenstein, and, of course, Jekyll & Hyde. Off-Broadway, Brad has appeared in Little Shop of Horrors, Broadway Bounty Hunter, Sweeney Todd, and Forbidden Broadway. Stages he’s worked on in America include: the Arena Stage, the Old Globe, the La Jolla Playhouse, the McCarter, Barrington Stage, and more.

In film and on TV, you can find Brad on such shows as: Ghost Town, The Producers, Smash, The Good Wife, and three Law & Orders.

JJ honed his writing skills as an undergrad at the University of Michigan before earning an MFA in Screenwriting from UCLA’s renowned School of Theater, Film, and TV, where he also received the prestigious Samuel Goldwyn Award for screenwriting. He interned at Will Ferrell and Adam McKay’s Gary Sanchez Productions, where he met a number of comedy titans he’s since gone on to work with.

JJ has had projects either set up or in development with Sony Pictures, Paramount Insurge, Di Boneventura Pictures, Broken Road, Green Hat, Virgin, and Jake Paul’s Team 10. Ultimately none of them got made, which is, truth be told, exactly like 99% of every other screen project in Hollywood.

But one of them did! The film, Bad Man, an action/comedy starring Seann William Scott, Johnny Simmons, Rob Riggle, Lovi Poe, and Chance Perdomo in his final screen performance, was released in the fall of 2025, earning JJ his first produced feature film writing credit.

I’ve seen Bad Man and can tell you it’s an offbeat, dark, action-comedy with heart and a clever twist at the end.

For the record, JJ and I have known one another for more than 15 years as we attended the UCLA MFA in Screenwriting Program at the same time.

Virginia’s also a graduate of GrubStreet’s 2020 Memoir Incubator.

Her most recent book is If You Must Go, I Wish You Triplets, a candid, funny, and emotionally rich memoir about her divorce and reinvention in her 60s. She published this debut memoir at 72, proving it’s never too late to tell your story. I’ve read If You Must Go, I Wish You Triplets, and found it to be inspiring, particularly regarding not giving up despite numerous challenges in your personal life. Virginia’s book will resonate with readers who may be navigating heartbreak, identity shifts, and the complicated freedom that comes with starting over. Virginia believes emotional resilience is built through humor and friendship, both of which are well expressed in her book.

He’s also has written numerous video games, many of which have been nominated for the WGA and BAFTA Film Awards. Games he’s worked on include Call of Juarez, Red Alerts, Shadow Warrior, Black Hawk Down, and many others.

Haris recently released the sixth book in his James Flynn Escapade series, called From Lompoc With Love. I’ve read the first book of the series, You Only Live Once, which is one of the cleverest, wittiest, and most fun takes on the superspy genre I’ve had the pleasure to read. I’m a huge James Bond fan, and I was thoroughly caught up in James Flynn’s hilariously delusional and unexpected exploits. The book series has been optioned by producer Sherry Marsh and Will Arnett’s company and is currently being shopped to streaming studios.  

Debi’s video game work includes Cookie Run Kingdom, Crash Bandicoots, Final Fantasy, Guild Wars 2, Genshin Impact, and World of Warcraft.

For Anime, you can hear Debi in Netflix’s Rising Impact, Zatch Bell, Sailor Moon and Glitter Force.

Debi’s also written and recorded 5 award-winning children’s music albums. Her 2 most recent are: Go to Sleep-Lullaby Album and Gotta Go Green. Debi’s song Baby Banana hit #1 on Sirius/XM Kids. Her music can readily be found on all digital streaming platforms.  Look for her new kids single, Compost Bin, with Grammy Award winner Lisa Loeb.

You can also find Debi at debiderryberry.com and on her YouTube channel, Debi Derryberry KIDS! which has animated videos to accompany her children’s music. Her TikTok page has over 1.3 million followers and over 28 million likes! 

David began with Orpheus when the group was playing for free. He has played with many of the world’s greatest classical musicians, including legends like Yehudi Menuhin, Itzhak Perlman, Rudolf Serkin, and Yo-Yo Ma among others.

David has also performed at the White House with Music from Marlboro and The Lincoln Center Chamber Music Society for Presidents Carter and Clinton.  

David’s recently published memoir, From Cab Driver to Carnegie Hall, is more than a musician's autobiography; its inspiring narrative will resonate with anyone who has faced life's challenges head-on. It’s an ode to the power of never giving up while giving oneself every chance to succeed. 

I’ve read David’s book and found it to be a fascinating, uplifting reflection of a life in music that’s been full of challenges, triumphs, and the transformative power of music. If you enjoy stories about artists succeeding despite difficult obstacles, I highly urge you to read David’s entertaining memoir. 

Mark has spent his 49-year career in Hollywood imagining and composing altered sonic realities for motion pictures. He’s a frequent lecturer, an outspoken proponent for sound as art, and a guitarist/songwriter with compositions that can be heard in sex, lies and videotape, Star Trek IV, and more.

Mark believes that all organized sound is music. He sees his work in movies as every bit a composition as those of Beethoven and the Beatles. He just happens to use dissonance, melodic content and arrhythmia to its fullest advantage. His work is no less considered, designed, created or manipulated. It just isn’t usually what we think of as hummable.

His first job in the entertainment industry was at the age of 19 in the sound department of Hanna Barbera Studios making funny noises for children’s cartoons. His ears have been keenly trained by years of language study and playing guitar, which suited him well for a career of critical listening and creating unimagined aural worlds and fabricating sonic realities for motion pictures.

Mark founded and ran the successful post-production sound company, Weddington Productions, for 25 years. Today he works at Formosa Group in Hollywood, continuing his work as a Supervising Sound Editor, Sound Designer and Re-recording mixer.

Chris’s non-fiction work has also appeared in Conde-Nast Traveler, Playboy, and the New York Times.

I’ve read Crane: Sex, Celebrity, and My Father’s Unsolved Murder, and have chatted about it once before on StoryBeat with Chris’s writing partner, the outstanding author, Robert Crane.  I’ve also read Chris’s short story, Hunting License, which is a very entertaining tale about a hunter who doesn’t like to kill. You’ll need to read it to see how it twists in an unexpected way.  Hunting License is the first tale in the wonderful short story collection, Beyond Where the Buses Run, which was edited by another terrific StoryBeat guest, Theresa Griffin Kennedy.

Joe’s been a professional cartoonist since the age of 14. Over the past 35 years, as he’s sought new and innovative ways to pursue his passion for the cartoon arts, his career path has taken as many twists and turns as one of his wonderful mazes. For example, he spent 30 years touring the U.S. as a performer, illustrating stories live as he told them. He founded and ran a cartoon art museum here in Pittsburgh called the Toonseum. He illustrated symphony performances live with the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra. And he’s exhibited his art in museums worldwide. Beyond all that, Joe’s been the visiting resident cartoonist of the Charles M. Schulz Museum for over 23 years.

With MazeToons — his unique hybrid illustration that is part cartoon and part puzzle — Joe has fulfilled a lifelong dream to appear in the funny pages.

He’s the author and illustrator of a dozen books, including “A-Maze-Ing Peanuts”, “Mega Maze Challenge,” “Our A-Maze-Ing National Parks,” “A-Maze-Ing America,” “A-Maze-Ing Animals,” “The Exploding Kittens Activity Book,” and many more.  Joe’s also the Brand Character Integrity Consultant and artist for Charlie the Tuna of StarKist fame.

Joe won the 2020 Divisional Reuben Award for the Variety Category as presented by the National Cartoonists Society.

For the record, Joe and I have known one another for more than a decade, from his days running the Toonseum here in Pittsburgh. 

Through her personal transformation, Risa has learned and practiced removing limiting beliefs, shifting her perspective, and embracing an expansive life unleashed.  Risa shares her insights and perspectives on stage, offering words of inspiration to audiences. Additionally, Risa works one-on-one with clients, guiding them through the many roadblocks of life and toward living in a more fully inspired way.

Recently, Risa published her book, The Road Unpaved: Border to Border with a Brain Tumor and a Bike.  I’ve read The Road Unpaved and can tell you I was deeply moved and awestruck by Risa’s struggles to overcome the strains of a grueling 1000+ mile bike ride along the U.S. Pacific Coast while contending with her tumor and acromegaly.  If you’re interested in stories about people engaging in their deepest will power to triumph over extreme challenges, then I highly urge you to check out The Road Unpaved.

Soon after, Billy was summoned to Brian’s office to find John there waiting for him with the suggestion that he add the “J” to his name to give it a “rock and roll edge”.  From that day forward, Billy has been known as Billy J. Kramer.

In March of 1963, Billy was the first person to have a hit record with a Lennon-McCartney song, “Do You Want To Know A Secret,” which was written specially for him by John and Paul and produced by George Martin at Abbey Road Studios even before The Beatles recorded it.

Billy toured extensively throughout the UK as the opening act for The Beatles both before and during Beatlemania.  Billy also headlined tours with such greats as Del Shannon, Gene Pitney, and The Everly Brothers.

Billy’s recordings of the Lennon-McCartney compositions, “Bad To Me” along with “I’ll Keep You Satisfied”, “From A Window”, and “I Call Your Name” all became international million sellers.  He also had a smash hit with the Mort Shuman/John Leslie McFarland song, Little Children.  

Released as a double sided single, Bad To Me and Little Children have the unique distinction of being the highest entry into the Billboard charts at #8.  That accomplishment has never been equalled.

Billy’s appearances on the Ed Sullivan show, Shindig, and Hullaballoo secured his place in rock ‘n roll history.  In 1964, Billy performed as part of the legendary T.A.M.I. show along with such artists as James Brown, Chuck Berry, The Beach Boys, Marvin Gaye, The Supremes , Smokey Robinson, The Rolling Stones and many others.

To commemorate his 50th anniversary in the music business, Billy recorded and released new material entitled “I Won The Fight”.  

Billy recently released his autobiography, “Do You Want To Know A Secret.”

Billy continues to record, perform and promote his Storytellers show to international audiences.

Please stick around at the end of the show for a really fantastic treat.  Billy has lent us his brand new Christmas song, “Christmas Kinda Feeling…”

In his time as a cartoonist, Charlie has worked on many other projects as far-reaching as Mars Attacks, the X-Files, Judge Dredd, Savage, Batman, X-Men, and Superman.

He’s also drawn many creator-owned projects closer to his heart, like Astronauts In Trouble, Breath Of The Wendigo, Codeflesh, Rock Bottom, Vampire State Building, White Death, Damn Them All, Heretic, and Altamont.

For ten years, she worked as a motivational speaker, addressing more than 22,000 people during more than 250 appearances in 11 states. She’s spoken to every sort of group from PTAs to Procter & Gamble. What makes her programs unique is that they’re illustrated by her artwork, quilts with words and symbols pieced into the design.

For three years, she wrote an award-winning motivational column that was syndicated in regional newspapers across the United States.

Lorie also sells her motivational quilts on Etsy.  In all formats – the spoken word, the written word, and the quilted word – Lorie uses the same M.O. She tells the stories of her life, hoping that her audience will glean life lessons from them.

Her fifth book, Chai on Life, was published by Bancroft Press in April 2025. I’ve read Chai on Life and found it to be deeply inspiring in how I think of my life and how I can be a better me. I highly recommend Chai on Life to you.

Kollektiv Studio works with founders, leaders, and creatives with a rebellious spirit and visionary tendencies. As Pia puts it, "The outcome isn't just what you create—it's who you become in the process."

She recently published Welcome to the Creative Club, a book that challenges everything people thought they knew about creativity. Praised by Google's Global Head of Creative & Innovation as "life-changing," and by iconic fashion designer Betsey Johnson as "a wild ride," this part-memoir, part-guide invites readers to make life their biggest art project and reclaim their creative power.

I’ve read Welcome to the Creative Club and as a lifelong creator myself, I found it to be eye-opening in how Pia cuts straight to the heart of overcoming the stumbling blocks that most creatives encounter. If you’re looking to supercharge your creativity, I highly recommend Welcome to the Creative Club to you.

He actually walked away from the music business in the mid-70s saying, “it’s not for me,” and yet he remained a dedicated songwriter and performer, releasing twelve LP’s while sharing his music with audiences everywhere.   

Barry’s autobiography, My Journey to Blue Sky, was recently published by New Haven Publishing. It covers the intimate details of his professional years, including, standing on the shoulders of various giants that he has known or worked with, like Cher, John Lennon, Larry Carlton, Supertramp, Kenny Rogers, Harry Nilsson, 10cc, and more. 

Barry’s classic album, Blue Sky, released by RCA, has reached its 50th anniversary. And now with his book, Barry reveals the life changing experiences he received while attending the ‘music school’ of the real world in those halcyon days of 1963 to 1975. Barry learned everything by listening, watching, and questioning. 

Please be sure to stick around at the end of the show for a very special treat.  Barry has graciously lent us his powerful hit song, “New York is Closed Tonight.,” which we’ll play for everyone to enjoy.  After 9/11, CNN played “New York is Closed Tonight,” juxtaposed to what was happening to the twin towers. 

Paul’s been a story editor, director, and producer in both TV and features. He was nominated for a Writers Guild of America award for "The Twilight Zone" and a GLAAD Media Award nomination for Telemundo’s "Los Beltrán.”  And he won a Genesis Award for a Showtime Family movie. 

He also happens to be one of the best screenwriting teachers in the world.  He’s taught in various MFA programs around the world, including: UCLA and Loyola Marymount in L.A., and in Barcelona, Cuba, Chile, Venezuela, Mexico, and Sweden.  

His highly regarded book, Rewrite, is one of the essential, must-read books for anyone interested in writing screenplays, teleplays, plays, and even novels. 

I’ve read his latest screenwriting book, The Screenwriting Sensei, which I thoroughly enjoyed because it took me straight back to Graduate School at UCLA when I was one of Paul’s numerous students. Paul’s teachings have remained exceptionally influential on me for both my own writing and in my subsequent years as a college professor of screenwriting. I highly urge anyone interested in writing for the screen to check out The Screenwriting Sensei. 

In 2000, he founded Blue Dream Studios, which, in addition to creating its own line of kids’ graphic novels, has produced work for Star Wars, The X-Files, Aliens vs. Predator, and other franchises. The studio’s first feature film, Animal Crackers, is available on Netflix and was the summer of 2020’s #1 animated movie in the world. 

I’ve read Scott’s latest book, “Becoming an Artist: How to Make Art Like a Human by Embracing Failure, Discovering Your Creative Voice, and Finding Joy in the Process.” I found the very useful concepts of Becoming an Artist easy and fun to read while being highly inspirational for anyone seeking to become a finely tuned artist. 

Scott also produces videos online dedicated to his over 4 million followers where he talks about art, autism, and how to be both a kindlier artist and human. Scott’s mission is to “make the world a kinder, gentler place, one story at a time.” 

 A feature film of Jarhead, directed by Sam Mendes and featuring Jake Gyllenhall, playing Tony Swofford, was released in 2005.

Subsequent to his military service, Tony pursued writing, earning a B.A. from UC Davis and an M.F.A. from the renowned Iowa Writers' Workshop. He’s taught at the University of Iowa, Lewis and Clark College, and currently Carnegie-Mellon University.  

I’ve read Jarhead and watched the movie multiple times and can tell you Tony’s story is as harrowing as it is darkly funny. I was blown away by the depths of Tony’s beautifully written, dare I say poetic telling of such a deeply personal, nerve-wracking experience. 

I’ve also read another of Tony’s memoirs, Hotels, Hospitals, and Jails, which is an equally wild ride through his personal and family life, especially dealing with his ailing father who was trying to maintain his boisterous lifestyle as his body was failing him.  Both books are brilliantly written. I highly recommend them to you, as well as his novel, Exit A.

Tony has also published fiction and nonfiction in numerous major publications. including The New York Times and Harper's. 

Susan is also an Indie film producer and co-founder of Oakmill Entertainment. In 2016 she produced the internationally released feature film, Supercon, starring John Malkovich, Clancy Brown, Mike Epps, Tyrus and more. 

Since then, she’s produced multiple indie features, shorts, a TV Pilot and even a documentary traveling across the United States in an RV.  

Susan comes from a musical family that have been in the Christian recording and distribution industry for over 40 years.  Her husband, Ken, has worked in the film industry for over 30 years as a Special Effects Supervisor on major motion pictures. 

https://www.oakmillentertainment.com/

Tom began his career as an animator at Hanna-Barbera Productions on such familiar cartoon series as Scooby Doo, The New Flintstones, Casper, and Godzilla. Later, as a story editor and producer, he worked on shows like Pound Puppies, and Scooby-Doo and Scrappy-Doo. Tom created and produced A Pup Named Scooby-Doo, the first Scooby-Doo series to be nominated for an Emmy.

After honing his writing skills working at Filmation Studios on TV series like Blackstar, and Tarzan, Lord of the Jungle, Tom would subsequently join Warner Bros. Animation where he went on to head up production on Tiny Toon Adventures, beginning a decade-long, wildly successful creative collaboration with Steven Spielberg, spanning five hit series resulting in over 30 Emmy Awards in numerous categories. 

In 1993, in collaboration with Mr. Spielberg, Tom created a cast of breakout characters for Animaniacs, the multi-award-winning "hellzapoppin'-style" cartoon show, starring the zany siblings Yakko, Wakko and Dot Warner. Tom served as the show's senior producer, story editor, writer and lyricist.

Tom served as chief creative executive of Warner Bros. Animation during its second "Golden Age." Along with Jean MacCurdy, Tom executive-produced: Taz-Mania and Batman: The Animated Series.

Janet’s most recent book, The Parisian Chapter, is available as an audio book only.  I’ve read The Paris Library and listened to The Parisian Chapter and can tell you these are both well-written novels of the heart that transported me - to a world I know little about - inside The American Library in Paris as it existed during World War II as well as in more modern times. I had no idea libraries could be such a hotbed of romance and colorful intrigue.

Janet’s essays and short stories have appeared in the Chicago Tribune, The Sydney Morning Herald, and the anthology, Montana Noir. Her work has been translated into 40 languages.

JSkeslienCharles.com

Instagram: @jskesliencharles

Facebook: Janet Skeslien Charles

Through his career he’s worked with artists such as Ian Hunter, Terry Reid, Robert Wyatt, Max Martin, Crystal Gayle, Paul Young, Maria McKee and more.

Besides being one of Sweden’s most prolific singer/songwriters, he’s also an author of a handful of books, including co-writing the autobiography of the former UEFA President, Lennart Johansson, who was one of the most influential leaders of international football, or soccer, as we call it in America.  Lennart Johansson was the brains behind the Champions League. He was also responsible for bringing England back into the European cups with his famous words, “England needs Europe and Europe needs England.”  

I’ve read Sulo’s book, Lennart Johannson: A Mate Among Bigwigs and Trophies, and found it to be a fascinating study of the legendary international soccer leader’s life growing up as a poor boy from the outskirts of Stockholm who had the unusual gift to be able to bring people together to work toward fair play in a game that includes everyone. I highly recommend Sulo’s terrific book to you.

https://wildkingdom.se/artists/sulo/

https://www.newhavenpublishingltd.com/soren-sulo-karlsson/

Born and raised in the mountains of western Montana, Kit spent her childhood traipsing around forests, streams, and meadows, either on foot or horseback, exploring, fishing, and shooting. 

After earning undergraduate degrees in Medical Technology and professional Microbiology, she ultimately earned a Master of Science from the University of North Dakota. Subsequently, Kit spent more than 3 decades under a microscope as a medical technologist and lab manager for various medical, hospital, and health care facilities. She’s currently a laboratory director at Granite County Medical Center. 

I’ve read Nefarious Intent, the 4th book in the Anderson Chronicles Mystery series, and can tell you it’s an engrossing, page-turning thriller that kept me wanting to know how the intricate puzzle would unravel.  If you like mysteries set outside of urban landscapes, I highly recommend Kit’s books to you.

Kit's website: https://www.kitkarson.com

Facebook: facebook.com/kitkarsonauthor

Twitter: twitter.com/kitkarson11

Alexandra is an animal advocate for Four Paws Australia. And she has postgraduate qualifications in psychology.

She’s also now a novelist. Alexandra's evocative debut book, Kingdom of Flight, details a dystopian vision of Earth's last remaining island. Victor Paul is the co-author of Kingdom of Flight, which is published by Austin Macauley Publishers in London.

https://alexandrahainsworth.com/

YouTube | Spotify | Apple Music
 

Alexandra Hainsworth: TO FLY

A resilient survivor of childhood trauma, Alretha is a former model who, as an actress, has appeared in numerous films, TV series, and commercials. She also appeared on two iconic soap operas, Days of Our Lives and General Hospital. Currently, she’s a series regular, playing Anastasia Devereaux, on Tyler Perry’s Assisted Living, which is in its fifth season on BET.

As a playwright, Alretha has won accolades and awards for her plays Civil Rites, A Shrine to Junior, Mommie and Clyde, Sacrificing Simone, and Grandpa’s Truth.  She also wrote One Woman, Two Lives, that starred Kellita Smith (of The Bernie Mac Show), and was directed by four-time NAACP Image Award Best Director recipient, Denise Dowse.

Alretha, who holds a degree in journalism from USC, has written 15 novels, over a half-million of which have been sold and downloaded, receiving glowing reviews from readers, book clubs, and critics.  Her first novel, Daughter Denied, was launched in 2008. A four-book series, Cass & Nick, spawned from her novel, Married in the Nick of Nine, was acquired by Soul Mate Publishing. And she was awarded the Jessie Redman Fauset Literary Award for her Indie Novel, For Ladies Only. 

Her latest book, The Daughter Between Them, was recognized by Kirkus Reviews as one of the top thriller indie books of 2024. I’ve read The Daughter Between Them and was completely drawn in by the wonderfully complex, unfolding mystery thriller as told through Alretha’s masterful storytelling and her deeply compelling characters.

She’s had several videos go viral, including three that have received more than 2 million views.  

www.alrethathomas.com

https://www.instagram.com/athomasforreal/

Doug’s film and TV orchestration credits include Mary Poppins Returns, the live action films of Aladdin, Beauty and the Beast, and The Little Mermaid, Chicago, Frozen,Smash, and Schmigadoon. He’s contributed to countless live broadcasts and awards shows, including the Oscars, Tonys, Emmys, and Kennedy Center Honors.

As a composer, Doug has written scores for Breathe, Little Did I Know, The Big One-Oh, and the new musical Crumbs. 

His arrangements have been performed by extraordinary artists ranging from Barbra Streisand to Beyoncé, and by ensembles including the Boston Pops and the U.S. Military Academy Band. Doug continues to champion musical storytelling across all media, including through the Arrival Arts Initiative.

Doug's Website: https://dougbesterman.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DougBestermanMusic/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dougbesterman/

Arrival Arts:

Website: https://www.arrivalartsinitiative.org/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61577010220015

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/arrival_arts_initiative/

 He began his show business journey as a clown at Blackpool Tower Circus followed by working as a scriptwriter for various comedians of the period. 

Comic books came next as Tim worked as a writer and editor for Britain's top periodicals followed by a long stint at Marvel Comics. 

Alongside his comics work, Tim conducted interviews for newspapers and magazines with stars from the entertainment world followed by many years creating documentaries for London Weekend Television’s South Bank Show. During that time, he was also working as an editor for The Saturday Evening Post. 

Tim and his wife, Jane, created the publishing company, Quill Publications, and a music business, Mighty Quinn Management. 

Tim’s latest novel, Bigger than the Beatles, tells the story of a Liverpool boy who picked up a guitar in 1957 and went on to global success with his band, the Dream Daffodils. We follow his story across the years until his Final Death Tour in 2025. Many of Tim and Jane's real-life experiences in the music business are incorporated in the book.

I’ve read Bigger than the Beatles and can tell you it’s all that you’d expect from a Tim Quinn book: exceptional, incisive writing that’s filled with a huge helping of clever humor about the Liverpool music scene.  I thoroughly enjoyed reading Bigger than the Beatles, and highly recommend it to you.  It’s the second book of Tim’s that I’ve had the pleasure to read; the other being The Jolly Bloodbath. Tim has also published his autobiography, Argh, which I encourage you to check out.

https://sites.google.com/view/mightyquinnmanagement/home

In 2012, after a bad experience with a UK publisher, Teddie established New Haven Publishing to put out her book, A Vicious Love Story: Remembering the Real Sid Vicious, which is her account of being the 16-year-old translator for the Sex Pistols during a leg of their 1977 Scandinavian Tour. It was New Haven’s first book. 

A Vicious Love Story takes us through Teddie’s unique encounter with Sid Vicious and the Sex Pistols, including a fascinating cast of characters surrounding the band, such as Neon Leon, Eileen Polk, Peter Gravelle, Kenny Gordon, and Howie Pyro. 

I’ve read A Vicious Love Story and can tell you I was thoroughly engrossed by Teddie’s description of what it was like for her at such a young age to be tossed into the middle of a fairly wild scene with such dynamic punk rockers, especially as she became quite close to Sid Vicious.

Since 2012, New Haven Publishing has grown substantially, now representing 200 authors with a catalogue of 250 books that are heavily anchored in the music and entertainment industry. New Haven also has several imprints: Phoenix Press Kids books, Viking Press Comics, Portland Press Novels, and in the United States, New Haven Publishing US. 

For the record, Teddie and I have known one another for several years as I’ve had the privilege of interviewing numerous New Haven Publishing authors, including Tim Quinn, Jimmy Ryan, Jon Kremer, and the one and only Suzi Quatro.

https://www.newhavenpublishingltd.com/

 Wanda’s ancestors were part of the Anabaptist faith, and her novels are based on personal research intended to accurately portray the Amish way of life. Her books are read and trusted by many Amish people, who credit her for giving readers a deeper understanding of the Amish and their customs. 

 Martha Bolton is a prolific author of 89 books, a nominee for an Emmy, Writers Guild Award, and Dove Award, and a co-author of three NY Times bestselling books. She was also Bob Hope’s first full-time female staff writer and wrote for his primetime TV specials as well as during 15 years of his personal appearances and special events, penning lines for a virtual Who’s Who in entertainment, sports, and politics. She also co-authored the award-winning Dear Bob...Bob Hope's Wartime Correspondence with the GIs of WW2.

Martha’s stage work includes writing the script for the musical “The Confession,” based on Beverly Lewis’ bestselling Confession trilogy. She also co-wrote “Half-Stitched” with director/composer Wally Nason, which is based on Wanda’s bestselling book The Half-Stitched Amish Quilting Club. Martha also wrote the shows Josiah for President and The Home Game for Blue Gate Musicals, both of which have accompanying novels written by Martha.

Wanda and Martha collaborated on their recently released book, The Rise and Fall of Miss Fanny’s Biscuits: A Cozy Amish Mystery, which I’ve had the pleasure to read and can tell you it’s an absolute gem of a mystery novel. If you like clever stories set in a world that I think most folks don’t know in detail, then I highly recommend Miss Fannie’s Biscuits to you.  Of note, The Rise and Fall of Miss Fannie’s Biscuits has also been adapted into a stage musical. 

Born in the squalor of a Shanghai shantytown, Qin overcame poverty, starvation, and the political persecution of her family to win admission to a prestigious Chinese university and emigrate to the United States where she became a successful writer. With more than 200 published works, she strives to strengthen the bonds of understanding and humanity that connect us all. 

Qin writes beautifully and movingly about her family and their struggles to endure extraordinarily difficult conditions. I highly urge you to check out Once Our Lives.

 www.QinSunStubis.com

As Senior Animation Director at Rhythm & Hues studios he directed CG characters in films that have grossed over $1 billion worldwide. In 2017, he and his wife Sue were the first couple to receive The International Animation Society's prestigious June Foray award.

In addition to serving on multiple committees at the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, Bill also served as the head of the Digital Arts Department at Dodge College of Film and Media Arts at Chapman University

Recently, Bill published his autobiography, Mr. In-Between: My Life in the Middle of the Animation Revolution, which I’ve read and truly enjoyed, especially because I spent more than two decades writing screenplays in the animation industry, where Bill is a legendary creative force.  I highly recommend Mr. In-Between to you.

https://www.mrinbetween.org

Rick’s created dozens of local TV documentaries known collectively as The Pittsburgh History Series, including: “Kennywood Memories,” “What Makes Pittsburgh Pittsburgh?” and “Right Beside The River” as well as many more. He’s also produced 15 national programs for PBS including “A Hot Dog Program,” “A Flea Market Documentary” and “A Few Good Pie Places.”

I’ve seen a number of Rick’s documentaries and have always been delighted by the way they’re put together and especially by the uplifting, wonderfully human stories Rick’s work delivers each and every time.

Rick has been honored with several regional Emmy Awards and two national Emmy nominations. One Pittsburgh bar even named a drink after him. In 2018, Pittsburgh Magazine named Rick one of the 50 Greatest Pittsburghers Of All Time.  There’s even a street named for him in Pittsburgh’s Somerset at Frick Park neighborhood.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rick_Sebak

https://www.wqed.org/history-documentaries-pittsburgh-history-series/

https://www.pbs.org/show/the-rick-sebak-collection/

A collection of his work, Shot in the Dark, has been published in the U.S., U.K. and Spain. He has had solo exhibits in Berlin, London, Tokyo, Den Hague and Los Angeles, as well as group shows across the States and Paris.

David’s photos are in the collections of the Grammy Museum in LA, the Punk Rock Museum in Las Vegas and MOMA in NY.

He has never photographed bands he doesn’t like. David is the oldest angry young man in Chiswick, West London.

Ed’s authored five critically acclaimed books: Spilled Gravy, Looking To Click, Laugh, Dammit!, Unmoved Chess Pieces, and Cracking Up.  I recently read Cracking Up and can tell you it’s a laugh out loud compendium of stories from Ed’s highly memorable show biz career. If you like hilarious real-life Hollywood stories, I highly recommend Cracking Up to you.

https://www.eddriscollcomedy.com

https://twitter.com/theeddriscoll 

https://www.facebook.com/theeddriscoll

https://instagram.com/theeddriscoll

Dr. Ziegler is the author of four books, more than 60 scholarly publications - including book chapters - and has produced more than 100 videos and other multimedia works. She most recently published “Midnight Train From Georgia,” which chronicles and celebrates the extraordinary life of William Franklin Guest, one of the founding members of the famed singing group, Gladys Knight and the Pips. I’ve read Midnight Train From Georgia and can tell you it’s a fascinating study of an artist working inside the rough and tumble world of show business at the highest level.

For those listeners who may not know, Gladys Knight and the Pips released numerous, popular, smash hit songs like: Midnight Train to Georgia, I’ve Got to Use My Imagination, Best Thing That Ever Happened to Me, and many more.

Lady Dhyana is also a multimedia writer, digital content producer, and songwriter. 

https://dhyanaziegler.ampbk.com/

Sam subsequently became a playwright and calls his playwriting and theatre work his 4th Age. His first play, The Actual Dance, Love’s Ultimate Journey Through Breast Cancer, was later turned into an award-winning memoir.

In 2021, Sam was diagnosed with early-stage Alzheimer’s Disease. Despite the enormous challenges of this diagnosis, Sam has become “Dementia Man,” a powerful advocate through theater, using his own experience as inspiration to reshape the narrative surrounding cognitive decline. In his newest play, “Dementia Man, An Existential Journey,” Sam defies stereotypes and inspires audiences.

Sam is joined in this episode by his wife, Susan, who acts as his cognitive navigator.

www.dementiaman.com

Inspired by the rhythms and sounds of music echoed in language, her debut novel, Water Music: A Cape Cod Story, combines all her passions – music, writing, and Cape Cod. The book has received critical acclaim and numerous book awards, including Literary Titan Gold, National Indie Excellence, New England Book Festival Regional Lit, and the Feathered Quill Reviewers Choice Awards. 

I’ve read Water Music and can tell you it’s a phenomenal exploration of the tribulations of a young girl on the verge of becoming a teenager, growing up in and around an emotionally challenging family, all while working to discover herself within that stressful mix.

Marcia's many articles have appeared in a variety of magazines. And her short story writing has received multiple awards from various groups far and wide. 

A cellist with the Minnesota Orchestra for her entire musical career, she’s inspired by the rhythms and sounds of music echoed in language. 

For more information, please see: www.marciapeck.com.

 He produced Swamp Thing for the USA Network, Raven for CBS, Co-Executive Produced Xena, Warrior Princess, co-created and Executive Produced Sheena, and has had many pilot and development deals with various major studios. 

Steve’s animation work includes Itsy Bitsy Spider, Transformers Rescue-Bots, and the short film The Gift of the Hoopoe with legendary director Don Bluth. 

His prose work includes The Non-User-Friendly Guide for Aspiring TV Writers; the graphic novel Stalag-X with Kevin J. Anderson; stories in such anthologies as Jeff Sturgeon’s Last Cities of Earth and Alien Vs. Predators: Ultimate Prey. Steve recently published the short story collection, Tales of the Aboveground/Underground, which I thoroughly enjoyed reading. If you like offbeat stories with a wonderful twist to rival those of the Twilight Zone, I highly urge you to get Steve’s book.

www.stevenlsears.com

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steven_L._Sears

pondalee.com

Suzi has sold over 55 million records, putting out such hits as 48 Crash, Devil Gate Drive, The Wild One, She’s In Love With You, If You Can’t Give Me Love, and her duet with Chris Norman, Stumblin’ In.

Suzi’s also well-known for playing Leather Tuscadero on the hit TV Series, Happy Days, as well as for her various other TV appearances.

Suzi turned her bestselling autobiography, Unzipped, into her one woman show, which premiered at London’s Hippodrome in 2007.

A prolific poet and writer, Suzi has published such books of poetry as Through My Eyes, Through My Heart, Through My Words, and Through My Thoughts. Her first novel, The Hurricane, was released in 2017, and she recently published her latest novel, Grave Undertakings.  I’ve read Grave Undertakings and can tell you it’s a fantastic dive into the minds of a college psychology class, and what happens when the small group of students and their professor analyze themselves and one another revealing their own inner lives and sensibilities. This is the rare work of fiction that I believe should be taught in psychology classes everywhere.

Aside from her wonderful writing, Suzi continues to tour and release new albums.

His music videos, short films, and features have been screened at more than 50 film festivals nationwide. His work includes: "The Devils Matchmaker," a short that won Best Short Shorts Comedy/Romance at the Eugene International Film Festival. 

Jonathan wrote and directed Amy Alyson Fans, a feature-length romantic comedy. I’ve seen his most recent movie, The Comic Shop, which he co-wrote and directed, and can tell you, as someone who’s written more than a few superhero cartoons, I found it to be a funny and emotionally rich story about folks struggling to survive in the dog-eat-dog world of comic books. 

Jonathan’s also written two books, Anticipation: The Real Life Story of Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace, which was written before Jonathan graduated high school, and its sequel, Revenge: The Real Life Story of Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith. 

https://www.directorbowen.com/

Christian’s career includes working in virtual studios, sporting events, and collaborations with popular German business speakers. 

Since 2019, Christian has been producing visually stunning content for top hi-fi brands including Focal Naim, Bowers & Wilkins, and Bang & Olufsen. 

His passion for storytelling began with childhood Lego play, now translating into impactful, award-winning cinematic work.

www.christian-schu.com

Kiesha co-founded and has choreographed 15 years of Broadway’s the Jimmy Awards, which has reached over 120,000 students annually. 

She choreographed the feature films, “The Perks of Being a Wallflower,” and “Sorority Row,” the documentary series “Broadway or Bust” for PBS, and two critically acclaimed TV series, “Outsiders” and “American Rust”. 

Her international concert dance works continue to be performed throughout Europe and Asia, including: Shed, Catapult, Alegria, Kinex, Aftermath, Wish, Jolt, Unsung Moment, and Vicious Cycle. She’s also created three critically acclaimed full-length dance theater productions including The Bench: Journey into Love, HeartShakes, and Bound in Before.

Kiesha’s regional theater highlights include: All Shook Up at North Shore Music Theatre, Jesus Christ Superstar at Kansas City Starlight Theatre, Into the Woods at the Arsht Center, and for the Pittsburgh CLO, Judge Jackie Justice, Ruthless! The Musical, First Date and the Gene Kelly Awards.

For the record, Kiesha and I have known one another for a number of years as we were both faculty members in the Conservatory of Performing Arts at Point Park.

https://kieshalalama.com/

https://www.pointpark.edu/academics/schools/copa/copadeptsmajors/dance/faculty/kieshalalama

Beyond her business acumen, Sharon is a gifted visual artist, intertwining her artistic expression with extraordinary storytelling to breathe life into intricate characters and vivid settings that captivate the heart and ignite the imagination. She has authored two bestselling novels, Masque of Honor and Veil of Doubt. 

Sharon's latest book, The Grays of Truth, was recently published. I’ve read The Grays of Truth and can tell you I was immediately swept up by the suspenseful historical murder mystery set in 1867 antebellum Baltimore, where some of the city’s elite suffer mysterious deaths amidst a backdrop of scandal. If you like historical thrillers, I highly urge you to check out The Grays of Truth.

www.sharonvirts.com

 Bookclub: #ReadWithSharon 

FB: SharonVirtsBooks 

IG: @sharonvirtsbooks 

GoodReads: Sharon Virts 

Drew won back-to-back “Excellence in Producing” awards at the New York International Fringe Festival, where his production of Fluffy Bunnies in a Field of Daisies also earned an award for Best Ensemble and was named Best of Fringe.

Among the movies Drew has produced is the horror film, Desert of Blood. I’ve seen Desert of Blood and can tell you it’s a sexy, noirish, fun vampire thriller that isn’t for the faint of heart.

In addition to writing and producing, Drew has worked as a story consultant and coach to Hollywood writers for more than two decades. For six years, he was a thesis advisor for MA students in the Humanities department at Mount Saint Mary’s University in L.A., where he taught classes in screenwriting and playwriting and helped develop and launch the university’s MFA in Screenwriting program. 

Writers who’ve worked with Drew have collectively written dozens of published novels, scores of paid screenplays, hundreds of hours of Emmy-award-winning TV, and studio movies that have grossed more than $100 Million worldwide. 

Drew Brody on IMDB   https://www.imdb.com/name/nm2027470/?ref_=ttfc_fc_cr

TheInfinitemonkeyProject.com

https://www.instagram.com/infinitemonkey.mov/

https://www.facebook.com/theinfinitemonkeyproject/

Richie may be a media professional of the new era, posting his intense, on-the-ground videos on social media, but he brings an old-school newsman’s credibility from his extensive professional experience and globe-trotting life story.

Richie studied Arabic and Middle Eastern history at Georgetown University and subsequently traveled to Jordan, Turkey, Israel, Lebanon, and Egypt’s Tahrir Square less than a month before it became the flashpoint for the widespread protests and revolutions that erupted during the Arab Spring. 

Richie has worked at the Al-Jazeera program, “Min Washington,” broadcasting to households in Arabic throughout the Middle East, at NBC News’s Washington Bureau as a production assistant, and as the video director at Daily Caller, where he built a team of ten video producers. 

While covering the demonstrations in Kenosha, Wisconsin, sparked by the police shooting of Jacob Blake, Richie witnessed Kyle Rittenhouse shoot Joseph Rosenbaum and nearly got shot himself when a bullet ricocheted near his foot. Richie was plunged into the national spotlight and praised for his clear, non-biased, neutral reporting of the violence. 

On the ground for the January 6, 2021, riot at the US Capitol, Richie not only got closer to the action than virtually any other journalist but emerged with a nuanced understanding of how news events can be interpreted and manufactured by the media. 

Richie recently published his book, Riot Diet: One Man’s Ride Through America in Chaos. I’ve read Riot Diet and can tell you it’s a powerful series of reports from some of the most infamous protest riots of our times. Though definitely not for the faint of heart, I highly recommend Richie’s book to anyone interested in an insider’s look at some of the people covering those events and how they unfold.

https://www.amazon.com/stores/author/B0DLQXN1DK

Both projects are the culmination of years of writing about the journey of grief Cleo experienced after losing her mother to Alzheimer’s when she was 28 years old. 

Cleo’s mom was an English major in college and her grandmother, who is also one of her editors, was an English teacher for 30 years, so she came naturally to writing as a grief processing tool. With her work, Cleo hopes to show the path her grief took from having her mother, losing her mother, and the peace and acceptance she feels now. She also hopes to authentically and honestly look at what her grief felt like so other people going through their own grieving don’t feel alone and have a sense of community. 

You can learn more about Cleo and her various projects at cleochilds.com.

After twenty years of elevating the brands of some of our most prestigious advertisers, and with the help of a Screenwriting MFA from UCLA, Gabby started writing screenplays. His original scripts found homes inside a major motion picture studio and on assignment for several less prominent purveyors of the cinematic arts. 

With the recent publication of his first novel, “The Uniform,” a thriller that takes place during the Holocaust, Gabby has begun his fiction writing career. I’ve read The Uniform and can tell you it’s an intense trip through a nasty piece of World War II as experienced by David Korda, a young doctor and Jewish labor camp prisoner, who’s become an enslaved road crew worker destined for a death camp until he comes upon the body of a murdered Gestapo officer. David contrives to use the officer’s bloodied uniform as a means of escape. I was riveted by this chilling page turner. If you like great reads, I highly recommend The Uniform to you.

Gabby will soon publish his second book, The Ride of a Lifetime, a crime story set on the frozen streets of Detroit. 

If you are searching for Gabby’s books on Amazon, please search for G Gruen.

Among, Laila’s many film appearances are: Eye in the Sky, Side Effects, Blumenthal, Concussion, The Good Shepherd, An Innocent Man, Welcome Home Roxy Carmichael, True Crime, and Planes, Trains, and Automobiles.  

You may have also seen her in such TV series as: The Handmaid’s Tale, Homeland, Deception, 30 Rock, So Help Me Todd, Bull, Person of Interest, Blue Bloods, Damages, In Treatment, The Sopranos, Law and Order, and the series lead in Gabriel’s Fire opposite the late, legendary James Earl Jones. 

Laila’s work on Broadway includes Heartbreak House, the Tony-nominated play Frozen, and The Real Thing, as well as Off-Broadway in: the quartet of Richard Nelson’s Apple Family plays. She’s also appeared around the U.S. in numerous stage performances in shows such as: The Lady from Dubuque, Antony and Cleopatra, A Midsummer’s Night’s Dream, Sore Throats, Tiny Alice, Mrs. Klein, The Merchant of Venice, and many productions at The Guthrie in her hometown of St. Paul/Minneapolis, including Hedda Gabler and The Lion in Winter.   

Over the years, I’ve enjoyed quite a few of Laila’s on-screen performances in shows of which I’m a big fan, including everything she did in The Walking Dead, Homeland, The Blacklist and The Boys. Laila never hits a false note even when the stories in which she’s acting brilliantly defy reality.

Of note: Laila also happens to be married to a favorite StoryBeat guest, and someone to whom I owe a great debt of gratitude, the phenomenal actor and singer, Robert Cuccioli, who originated the roles of Henry Jekyll and Edward Hyde in the musical I created with Frank Wildhorn, Jekyll & Hyde.

In 2024, Michael released his latest album called “Luminosity,” which follows up 2023’s, “Impermanence,” “Transcendence” in 2022, and “Human Revolution” in 2021. All are original jazz and world music compositions which received approval for voting from the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences for Grammy Award consideration.

Michael’s musical influences come from James Newton, Ian Anderson, Miles Davis, John Coltrane, Eric Dolphy, Sun Ra, Yusef Lateef, and James Galway.

I’ve listened multiple times to each of his excellent records and can tell you Michael’s impressive work will instantly soothe your soul with warm, beautiful melodies, gorgeous arrangements, and Michael’s brilliance on the flute.  I highly recommend you check out his wonderful recordings and music.

Michael’s currently in the studio mixing 8 new songs for release in 2025 on the AVG Records label, so be sure to look out for that.

Michael’s been gracious enough to lend us his radiant composition, Moments from Luminosity. Please be sure to stick around at the end of the show to give it a listen. 

I’ve read Gratitude is Not Enough and can tell you it’s a powerfully written account of what the people of Clermont endured during World War II and the M&Ms efforts to preserve its history in their museum. I highly recommend this book to you. 

Dr. Tom Stein is a retired Emergency Physician, as well as a retired Colonel in the U.S. Army Medical Corps. He completed his Emergency Medicine Residency at Darnall Army Community Hospital, Fort Hood, Texas and served thirty-eight years in the Army and Army Reserves. Emergency Medical Services and Disaster Medicine are his sub-specialties.  

Robert won a Clio Award for casting the Best Performance for Children for a Dole Pre-Cut Vegetables commercial.

Robert eventually moved to Portland, Maine to pursue a career as a photographer. Exhibitions of his work include the Biennial at the Portland Museum of Art, Photographing Maine: Ten Years Later at the Center for Maine Contemporary Art, and Return to Peyton Place: Photographs by Robert Monroe at the Mohawk Valley Center for the Arts. And he’s a founding member of the Bakery Photographic Collective. 

Recently, Robert published his debut novel, Bungalow Terrace. I’ve read Bungalow Terrace and can tell you it’s a beautifully written tale about four boys growing up to become a powerhouse rock ‘n roll group who endure all the breathtaking highs of success and harrowing challenges of the sex, drugs, and rock and roll fueled 50’s, 60’s, 70’s and beyond.  Bungalow Terrace reads like an insider’s account of the lives of The Beatles, The Four Seasons, and The Beach Boys all rolled into one.  I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book and highly recommend it to you.

A graduate of NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts, Tex has contributed to over 25 feature film scripts and served as Co-Executive Producer and Head Writer for the Emmy-nominated series Brain Games.  

Tex is also a co-founder of Atomic Entertainment, overseeing projects like the Netflix educational series, Brainchild, and a growing slate of podcasts that he writes or stars in such as Slaycation, Mysteries About True Histories, The Oscars: What Were They Thinking? and Who Smarted?! 

I’ve read The Ghost Rules and can tell you this is a thoroughly charming, fun and funny story about 12-year-old Elwood McGee, who never asked to have “ghost-sight,” but winds up seeing more than his share of drooling, mostly hilarious apparitions. 

Wonderful, lovable ghosts are everywhere in Adam’s joyful debut novel. Adam’s had a varied career, including operating a sawmill in Kentucky, stocking groceries in L.A., and as a student draftsman at his local power company growing up in the Nashville suburbs, where he currently lives with his wife and kids. 

For the record, Adam and I met while we were in school together in UCLA’s professional program in Screenwriting. 

https://www.adamrosenbaumwrites.com/

Instagram:@rosenbaumwrites

Threads:@rosenbaumwrites

Bluesky:@rosenbaumwrites.bsky.social  

Among her documentaries, Food and Country, premiered at the 2023 Sundance Film Festival and was released theatrically in October 2024. Laura’s film, Ottolenghi and the Cakes of Versailles, explores chef Yotam Ottolenghi’s collaboration with the Metropolitan Museum of Art. She also directed City of Gold, which is about Pulitzer Prize winning food writer, Jonathan Gold. City of Gold was named by Vogue Magazine among their “65 Best Documentaries of All Time.”

Additional feature work includes the documentaries No Impact Man, Sunset Story, and the short film Monument/Monumento. 

Her TV work includes the Netflix shows Ugly Delicious and Disclosure. Most recently, Laura completed the 6-part non-fiction series, The Power of Film, based on the work of legendary UCLA film scholar, Professor Howard Suber. The series premiered on Turner Classic Movies in January 2024. 

For the record, Laura and I know one another from “The Power of Film” as I became involved in this exceptional project as a Co-Executive Producer. Like Laura, I’m a UCLA MFA Graduate and one of Howard Suber’s former students. Howard has been a guest on StoryBeat, and his episode is one of this show’s most downloaded. 

https://lauragabbertfilms.com/

www.thepoweroffilm.com

            I’ve read Winner’s Curse and can tell you it’s an exciting adventure into the high stakes world of the oil and gas industry, with corporate intrigue, sabotage, and ruthless, power-hungry characters around every turn. If you like thrillers, be sure to check out Winner’s Curse.

L.A. earned a degree in engineering at Tulane University and an MBA at the University of Chicago Booth School of Business. Besides writing high-stakes thrillers, she’s also a paid contributor to Seeking Alpha for her energy investment articles.

https://lastarksbooks.com/

https://www.facebook.com/LAStarksBooks

Hal has sold film and television material to all the outlets. His screenplay Holmeyer’s Bridge, holds the unofficial Guinness record for having been continuously optioned for twenty consecutive years, owned during that stretch by two Academy Award winning producers, two Tony Award winning producers and others.

His short fiction has appeared in numerous literary journals. “Sweet Day” was recorded by the late Robert Forster. Concrete Charley and The Golden Boy won the 2020 Sports Literate Sport Short contest.

Hal’s written three “Soft boiled” murder mystery novels about an aging counter-culture P.I. named Harry Stein. The first of those, Stein Stung, won a Lovey award for best first novel. Subsequently, he published Stein Stoned and more recently, Smoke and Lather. I thoroughly enjoyed reading all three Stein books and can tell you Hal delivers a unique take on the detective genre. Funny while being dramatic, Hal’s writing is cleverly brilliant and brilliantly clever. I highly recommend all three Harry Stein books to you.

Hal’s also known for publishing the highly informative and truly useful book, Write Screenplays that Sell: The Ackerman Way. If you want insight from one of the foremost screenwriting teachers of the last half century, make a point to check it out.  

Hal’s One-Man play, Testosterone: How Prostate Cancer Made a Man of Me (renamed Prick) won the William Saroyan award for drama and was named Best Play at the 2012 New York Solo Festival. 

In the interest of full disclosure, I’m proud to say I was fortunate to have been one of Hal’s many students while I was attending UCLA’s Graduate Screenwriting program. 

www.halackermanwriting.com 

CreativeLive.com

David has guided countless adaptations of books and plays to movies including Forrest Gump, The Elephant Man, Ordinary People, and Terms of Endearment. He also won an Emmy and Golden Globe for his HBO production of Rasputin: Dark Servant of Destiny.

David’s authored several books, including: The Address of Happiness, Breakfast in the Temple, and The Dog. I’ve read The Address of Happiness and can tell you it’s a deeply moving story of two souls who repeatedly find themselves through both time and space. I highly recommend The Address of Happiness to you.

A believer in giving back, David wants to inspire and equip the writers of tomorrow. He believes fiction is an underutilized tool that can help build a better world.  As such, he founded Story Summit, which has a mission to build community and connection among students and faculty while delivering world-class instruction in the art and craft of writing. 

https://www.storysummit.us/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Kirkpatrick_(producer)

HEADSHOT PHOTO CREDIT BY MILLER MOBLEY

Theresa writes both creative nonfiction, including crime profiles, as well as literary fiction, specifically in the genre of domestic noir. Theresa sometimes writes essays about saving old buildings, and the environment, which includes a long essay on the health and challenges of the Mekong River. 

Theresa’s the author of the novel, Talionic Night in Portland: A Love Story, which was longlisted in the Clue and Somerset book awards for 2022. I’ve Read Talionic Night in Portland and can tell you it’s a mesmerizing take on the noir genre, full of an intense romance and workplace revenge. I highly recommend it to you. 

She’s also published Lost Restaurants of Portland, Oregon, delving into the history of shuttered Portland restaurants. 

And Theresa’s the editor of a great short story collection called Beyond Where the Buses Run, which includes 2 stories of her own, as well as stories from several favorite past StoryBeat guests like Bob Crane, Joe Coyle, and Andy Erish.

She’s currently working on her second novel, The Angry Garbageman of Thurman Street. 

https://theresagriffinkennedy.substack.com/

For the record, I’ve had the privilege of working with Ana on Storyrocket seminars and workshops, which was very fulfilling for me to do.

Of note, Ana is a 2-time Emmy Award-winning television producer with over 25 years of experience in the entertainment industry. Her TV career spans from broadcast news to “live” morning shows, to scripted and special events productions. She’s worked with Univision, Telemundo, Disney, Major League Baseball and many fortune 500 companies. She’s also been honored by the City of Los Angeles for her contribution to the expansion of culture and entertainment.

Ana’s been featured in the Huffington Post, Miami Herald, Wayfarer Magazine, L.A. Biz, as well as leading Spanish-language publications like El Mundo and La Vanguardia. She’s also an international speaker at “best in class” events throughout the United States and Latin America.

WWW.STORYROCKET.COM 

Recently, R.J. published the terrific post-apocalyptic thriller, Crazy Hawk, which I’ve read and can tell you is a fantastically action-packed dystopian western set in an inhospitable American future. I thoroughly enjoyed reading Crazy Hawk, and highly recommend it to you.

 For more information, please see www.hovartus.com

Most recently, Rob directed and produced the live-action feature, “The Little Mermaid” for Disney, starring Halle Bailey, Melissa McCarthy and Javier Bardem.

Rob’s other directorial achievements include multiple nominations for award-winning features like: “Memoirs of a Geisha,” “Nine,” “Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides,” which went on to gross over 1 billion dollars worldwide, “Into the Woods,” and “Mary Poppins Returns.”

Rob executive produced, directed, and choreographed the NBC TV event “Tony Bennett: An American Classic,” for which he won his second Directors Guild Award. He’s also won 3 Emmys for Direction, Choreography, and Outstanding Variety, Music or Comedy Special. He directed and choreographed the Disney/ABC movie musical “Annie,” which received 12 Emmy nominations and won the prestigious Peabody Award. For choreographing Annie, Rob also received an Emmy and an American Choreography Award.

He’s received the Humanitas Prize for co-writing Mary Poppins Returns, and other awards from the Art Directors Guild, the Cinema Audio Society, the Costume Designers Guild, as well as the Annie Award, the Hamilton Award, and the Chita Rivera Award.

Rob’s extensive stage work includes the Broadway productions of “Cabaret,” “Little Me,” “Victor/Victoria,” “Damn Yankees,” “She Loves Me,” “Company,” and “Kiss of the Spiderwoman.” He’s been nominated six times for the Tony Award, and he’s a George Abbott Award winner.

For the record, Rob and I are both graduates of Taylor Allderdice High School here in Pittsburgh. Rob is also an alumni of Carnegie Mellon University’s top-rated School of Drama.

Recently, I read Martin’s excellent book, Taking London: Winston Churchill and the Fight to Save Civilization, and can tell you it’s a riveting, well-researched tale of truly fascinating people in London during World War II, who were both extremely famous, like Churchill, Neville Chamberlain, Edward R. Murrow, and others, as well as various less well-known fighter pilots who stood in the breach when dealing with harrowing life and death challenges. 

A seasoned adventurer and journalist, Martin has written books and articles that have been praised for their engaging narratives and meticulous research, such as the Tour de France, ancient civilizations, and adventure sports. 

In addition, Martin serves on the Board of Directors of the USA Track & Field Foundation, and coaches cross country high school athletes. 

www.martindugard.com

His books include: "The Harveyville Fun Times!", "If You're Cracked, You're Happy: The Story of Cracked Magazine, Book 1 and Book 2", "Mark Arnold Picks on The Beatles", "Frozen in Ice: The Story of Walt Disney Productions: 1966-1985", "Think Pink! The DePatie-Freleng Story", as well as books on Total Television Productions, Dennis the Menace, The Monkees, and Alvin and the Chipmunks." 

Mark’s latest books are about the music group, The Turtles, and a 2-volume MAD Magazine history, all of which came out in 2024. I’ve read both “Unconditionally Mad, Part 1,” and “Unconditionally Mad, Part B,” and can tell you they’re deeply and thoroughly researched histories of the ongoing seven decades run of Mad Magazine. If you want to know all about the people behind some of the most hilarious writing and drawing ever, as well as other pop culture sensations, I highly recommend you check out all of Mark’s books. 

He's also produced and recorded DVD commentaries for Shout! Factory and Kino Lorber and has helped the Cartoon Art Museum and the Schnitzer Museum with various art shows. Mark also hosts the Fun Ideas Podcast. 

funideasprod.wordpress.com/

As a writer, Michael has been published in various websites, magazines, and newspapers. He’s the theater & arts critic for ‘Burgh Vivant, Pittsburgh’s online cultural talk magazine. He’s also a Moth Grand Slam storyteller and actor. 

As well, Michael has presented workshops on humor to the Romance Writers of America and the Pennwriters Conference. His short film, “Light’s Out,” is playing at film festivals worldwide.

Michael’s books, “Below Average Genius,” a collection of essays culled from his weekly humor column in the Observer-Reporter, and his romantic comedy, “All I Want for Christmas,” are on sale at Amazon.com. His short story, “Study Buddy,” is in a collection of LGBTQ romance stories entitled “Winter Break.” 

I’ve read “All I Want for Christmas,” and “Below Average Genius,” and can tell you Michael is a wry, witty, and often laugh out loud writer of heartfelt stories regarding the human condition. I highly recommend you check out Michael’s work.

He’s also working on a full-length LGBTQ rom-com called “Why I Hate My Friends.”

https://www.instagram.com/michaelbuzzelli/

https://www.facebook.com/michael.buzzelli.58/

Jeff’s latest book is The Magical Impact of Storytelling, which I’ve read and can tell you is an easy-to-read, highly motivating compendium of encouraging advice for anyone hoping to become their best creative self. If you’re looking for inspiration in your storytelling life, I urge you to check out The Magical Impact of Storytelling.

www.jeffleisawitz.com

I’ve read Misfits and can tell you the book comprises 12 dynamic stories about offbeat characters grappling with personal encounters as they try to live their disconnected lives.  I highly recommend this insightful set of stories to you.

Mark started his professional career covering crime for the famed City News Bureau of Chicago. He also reported national news for the Associated Press before making TV documentaries.

For several years Mark was a contributing editor to New West magazine. He also wrote articles, essays, and reviews for national newspapers and magazines including: TV Guide, American Heritage, the New York Times, the L.A. Times and the Washington Post. He’s also published five award-winning novels for children.

Mark’s early films document some of the most important political issues of the 1960s. Huelga! is a portrait of Cesar Chavez’s United Farmworkers Union and the first year of the union’s historic Delano grape strike. The Redwoods, which won an Academy Award for Best Short Documentary, presents the Sierra Club’s successful case for establishing a Redwoods National Park. And The Foreigners explores the work of a group of Peace Corps volunteers confronting the contradictions of U.S. foreign policy as they try to bring social change in Colombia.

Two films Mark wrote and directed that explore the Holocaust won Oscars for Best Feature Documentary. The Long Way Home documents what happened to the survivors of the concentration camps immediately following their liberation. And Into the Arms of Strangers: Stories of the Kindertransport chronicles Britain’s rescue mission of 10,000 children shortly before World War II. The U.S. Library of Congress selected Into the Arms of Strangers for permanent preservation in the National Film Registry. 

Among Mark’s other notable nominated and award-winning films are: Unchained Memories: Readings from the Slave Narratives; Darfur Now; Breaking Point: The War for Democracy in Ukraine; and Foster. He was also a consulting producer for the 5-part, Peabody Award-winning series Asian Americans.

For 40 years, Mark taught filmmaking at the School of Cinematic Arts at the University of Southern California. He also taught for 7 years at the School of Film/Video at Cal Arts. In 2010, the International Documentary Association honored him with its Scholarship and Preservation Award for his educational work. 

His latest novel,Deadpan, follows the misadventures of a vaguely antisemitic West Virginia Buick dealer who wakes up one day transformed into the world’s most popular Jewish comedian.  I’ve read Deadpan and can tell you it is an exceptionally funny ride with very serious overtones. This is one of the most imaginative time and character-slipping stories I’ve read since Kurt Vonnegut’s Slaughterhouse Five.

Richard’s other books include the novels Escape From Film School and Barry and the Persuasions. His non-fiction titles include: The Whole Picture: Strategies for Screenwriting Success in the New Hollywood; Screenwriting--The Art, Craft and Business of Film and Television Writing; and Essentials of Screenwriting. His books have been translated into eight languages.

In the interest of full disclosure, I’m proud to say that I was fortunate to have been one of Richard’s students while I was attending UCLA’s Graduate Screenwriting program. 

You can find out much more about Richard and his work by subscribing to his podcast onSubstack, and his blog onMedium. 

www.richardwalter.com. 

https://www.facebook.com/ProfRichardWalter?mibextid=LQQJ4d

https://substack.com/@richardwalter

https://medium.com/@professorrichardwalter

After spending his formative years touring with the band Kelakos, in 1979, Carl joined forces with David “Rock” Feinstein to start the legendary Upstate, NY power trio, The Rods. The band quickly became a sensation in the northeast, landing a major recording contract with Arista Records. The Rods toured and played shows with the likes of no less than: Judas Priest, Ozzy, Motörhead, Metallica, Richie Blackmore, Blue Oyster Cult, and many others. 

In the late 1980’s, Carl produced of some of heavy metal’s most iconic bands, including: Anthrax, Overkill, Exciter, Possessed, Helstar and many others. He also coached, developed, and mentored bands such as Roxx Gang and Young Turk. 

The Rods had a resurgence in 2010 with their comeback album; Vengeance., which was followed by Brotherhood of Metal and the highly acclaimed Rattle the Cage. The Rods continue to tour and are currently putting the final touches on their 11th studio album. Carl has also released 2 albums under the moniker of Canedy.

Doc is a devoted culinarian and a dedicated heavy metal fan. A graduate of the esteemed Culinary Institute of America, he has spent the past 2 decades writing and arranging technical manuals for the baking industry. Doc views the 80’s heavy metal scene as monumentally historic and highly impactful. He seeks to chronicle as much of its stories, triumphs, and challenges as time permits.  A massive Rods fan, Doc encouraged Carl to write his memoirs.

I’ve read Tales of a Wild Dog and can tell you it’s an intense, personal look at working within the gritty, full force world of Heavy Metal.  If you’re a fan of the genre and want to know more about its origins and the people in it, be sure to check out Tales of a Wild Dog.

 www.canedyband.com

Chris’s recent work includes Waiting for Godot at Theatre for a New Audience, Lynn Nottage’s play Clyde’s on Broadway and at the Mark Taper Forum, The Light in the Piazza, for which he won his first Tony, Paula Vogel’s play Indecent, winning him both the Tony and Drama Desk Awards, Rocky the Musical, which garnered him a Tony nomination, Sting’s musical The Last Ship, and The Gershwin’s Porgy and Bess, for which he was also Tony nominated. 

Among Chris’s other Broadway lighting designs are: August Wilson’s The Piano Lesson and Seven Guitars, Talk Radio, and the musical, Waitress.

Chris’s numerous shows not on Broadway include: Scene with Cranes for CalArts Center for New Performance; the premiere of M Butterfly for the Santa Fe Opera; and Martha Clarke’s devised pieces God’s Fool, Angel Reapers, and Cheri. 

Chris has also received an Obie Award for Sustained Excellence, four Drama Desk Awards, the Michael Merritt Award for Design and Collaboration, two Chicago area Joseph Jefferson Awards, as well as numerous nominations for the Drama Desk, Lucille Lortel, and Outer Critics Circle Awards.

Chris has taught lighting design at schools like Cal Arts, USC, CMU, and his alma mater, Yale.

Laura has worked on projects like "Twisters," "Drive-Away Dolls,", and "Out of the Furnace." She's also been part of blockbuster hits like "The Dark Knight Rises" and the critically acclaimed TV series "Mindhunter." 

Laura's role involves managing logistics, coordinating art department schedules including between various departments, and ensuring that every detail aligns with the production designer's vision. Her meticulous attention to detail and ability to juggle multiple tasks make her an essential part of any production team. 

Beyond her on-set responsibilities, Laura brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to her role. She studied video game art at Carnegie Mellon University and used to co-own an event planning company, adding a diverse range of skills to her impressive portfolio. 

A 60’s music highlight was meeting the Beatles at the height of Britain’s Beatlemania.  The story of Jon and Al finding themselves in the backstage company of John Lennon moments after the Fabs had first performed “She Loves You” live for an audience, days before the record’s release, became known as ‘The Men from Rickenbacker’. The tale of two teenagers pretending to be representatives of Rickenbacker guitars and needing to talk with the Beatles, eventually was retold many times in books, magazines, newspapers, tour programs, and on TV and radio.  

Jon’s first book, Bournemouth A Go! Go! – A Sixties Memoir, visited the story in-depth, as it takes a look back at the Bournemouth music scene in the early 60’s, featuring future members of The Police, King Crimson and Emerson, Lake, and Palmer - Andy Summers, Robert Fripp, and Greg Lake.   

A long-time fascination with the often obscure or overlooked key history-making moments that created and energized the story of pop and rock led to Jon writing the book, Chain Reaction, Rock ‘n Pop’s Magic Moments.  I’ve read Chain Reaction and can tell you it’s a fascinating exploration of how artists influence one another as they build out their careers, especially so in the music industry.

            After earning an art degree from Cal State Long Beach in 1984, John worked in Southern California as a portrait artist, rendering finely detailed pencil drawings. His patrons were television producers, actors, and writers, with such clients as the late comedian John Candy and baseball star Reggie Jackson.

            Wanting to reach a larger audience, John would periodically relocate to Central California and convince a farmer to allow him to paint a mural on his barn, just for practice. This led to commissions from local businesses. A major shift happened when he added cutout plywood pieces to his barn murals. Eventually, he abandoned barns and walls altogether, concentrating on the cut-outs themselves.

When the scale of his work got much larger, it attracted ad agencies and businesses from around the country. By then he had a blueprint for the way to create his art installations, which he still does to this day. John splits his time working on commissions from clients across the country and his own personal projects that allow him to explore his unusual form of public art. John’s work can be found in 23 states around the U.S. And his work has been featured in National Geographic Magazine, Smithsonian Magazine, and the New York Times. 

https://www.johncerneymurals.com/

Instagram: @johncerney

James made his Broadway debut in 1973 in "The Changing Room." In his very first entrance as a member of a rugby team, he had to walk downstage and strip off all his clothes! Instead of finding the experience terrifying, he actually found it liberating. And he played Laertes opposite Sam Waterston's Hamlet at the Vivian Beaumont Theater, alongside a cast of rising stars including Jane Alexander, Mandy Patinkin, George Hearn and John Heard. Most recently James was seen on Broadway in Aaron Sorkin's play "The Farnsworth Invention" that was directed by Des McAnuff and produced by Steven Spielberg. 

James was the voice for Ragu Spaghetti Sauce for 17 years, spawning the national catchphrase "Now, THAT'S Italian!" He continues to pitch other products for Coca Cola and Wrangler Jeans. He also lends his distinctive voice to audio books and short story anthologies on tape.

On TV, James’ break came when he starred as investigative reporter Mike Andros in The Andros Targets. He’s also appeared on such well-known TV series as Dynasty, Cannon, Kojak, St. Elsewhere, Family Ties, 21 Jump Street, Murder, She Wrote, L.A. Law, The X Files, Judging Amy, and many others. And he was a regular on Bob Crane’s short-lived sitcom, The Bob Crane Show. 

Additionally, he’s appeared in such notable TV movies as: A Death in Canaan, A Question of Love, Skokie, Space, and On Wings of Eagles. In feature films, James can be seen in Dancing as Fast as I Can starring Jill Clayburgh and Windy City with John Shea and Kate Capshaw.

He began his career in government and politics in 1972 as a speechwriter for the Legacy of Parks program in the Executive Office of the President in the Nixon Administration. He joined the staff of California Congressman Burt Talcott and later Nevada Senator Paul Laxalt as his Press Secretary and speechwriter.  He helped craft the speech Senator Laxalt gave nominating Ronald Reagan to be President. David also wrote the lead article celebrating the second inauguration of President Reagan called We the People, An American Celebration.

David also spent many years in the world of business as a writer in various capacities, writing books, speeches, opinion pieces and white papers for such companies as Monsanto, the Sheraton Corporation, UniRoyal as well as the Urban Land Institute, the American Forest and Paper Association, and others. 

David is an award-winning novelist whose books include Evil Town, Hotel Hell, Unheard Of, Holding Back the Dark and A Washington Trilogy. Recently, he published Mapping the Night, which I’ve read and can tell you is a terrifically exciting murder mystery thriller set in New York City and featuring characters more comfortable in the night than the day, with wonderful twists that include government intrigue. 

www.johndavidbethel.com

He studied television and film at Emerson College in Boston, where he worked in all aspects of film and video production but enjoyed editing the most.  A few years later, Tim made his move to Hollywood with the goal of turning editing into his specialty.   

Within a year he got his first editing job and ever since has worked in various genres, including episodic TV, commercials, and music videos.  

He edited his first short film, Hate *a Comedy, directed by Drew Daywalt and Dave Schneider, which was a huge success on the festival circuit.  

Tim’s feature credits include the critically acclaimed Happy Holidays, and the multi-award-winning black comedy horror film, Lucky, directed by some guy named Steve Cuden.  For the record, because of working together on the complex edit of Lucky, Tim and I have been friends for more than 20 years.

Tim had a long and satisfying “day job” working for E! Entertainment Television, editing episodes of the iconic True Hollywood Story, and Wild On.   He currently edits for the syndicated entertainment news show Access Hollywood.

Okema was a Directing Fellow for Minorities In Film’s Branded Lab, a semi-finalist for The Blackhouse Producer’s Lab, a 2nd rounder for the Sundance Producer’s Track, and a fellow for both the Stowe Story and the Black Magic Creative Producers Labs. She was a finalist for the PANO production microgrant, received a writing fellowship to create her first TV Pilot with Writer’s Boot Camp & Women Going Places. And her short script had a live staged reading at the Essence Film Festival in 2024.

Okema proudly serves on the board of New York Women in Film & TV and The Black TV & Film Collective. She is committed to lifting while she climbs, building up women, queer, IPOC, Caribbean and Black creatives.

She also happens to be a very fine actress.

www.moorethanenuff.com

He currently writes a Substack blog called Bits & Pieces, an anthology of humorous stories and essays.  

Steve is also the co-director, writer and producer of An Unreasonable Man a documentary about the career of legendary consumer advocate and third-party presidential candidate, Ralph Nader, which was not only an official selection of the Sundance Film Festival but also made the “shortlist” for Academy Award consideration in the documentary category. 

In 2005, Steve co-produced the TBS environmental special “Earth to America.”

Additionally, Steve co-hosts the weekly radio show Ralph Nader Radio Hour, which runs on Pacifica’s KPFK 90.7 FM in Los Angeles and various other independent radio stations, as well as being available on all podcast platforms. 

He is also a board member of the non-partisan public interest organization Public Citizen in Washington DC. 

WEBSITES:

Bits & Pieces 

podcast platforms

He’s directed episodes and been coordinating producer for “Real Stories of the Highway Patrol” and “U.S. Customs Classified.”  He wrote and produced “Alien Abduction,” the first network movie shot on digital video for UPN.  He wrote, produced, and directed “Ringling Brothers Revealed” a special for The Travel Channel, which was right up his alley because years earlier he’d been a roustabout for Circus Vargas.  

Paul has written features for Rysher Entertainment, NuImage, Promark, Mainline Releasing, and others.  Most recently he wrote, produced and directed “The Wedding Dress,” for Amazon Prime.  

Paul was nominated for a Writers Guild of America award for his work on "The Twilight Zone" and a GLAAD Media Award nomination for Telemundo’s "Los Beltrán.” He also won a Genesis Award for a Showtime Family movie. 

Paul has taught in the MFA programs at UCLA, the University of Barcelona’s film school ESCAC, Cuba’s film school EICTV, Chile’s film school UNIACC, The University of Zulia in Venezuela, The Panamerican University in Mexico City, The Story Academy of Sweden and as a clinical associate professor at Loyola Marymount University. 

Paul’s latest novel is Lies, All Lies. I’ve read Lies, All Lie, and found it to be one of the most entertaining works of fiction about behind-the-scenes Hollywood I’ve had the pleasure to peruse.

He’s also the author of one of the most indispensable, must-read books for anyone interested in writing screenplays, teleplays, plays, and even novels, called Rewrite.

For the record, I was one of Paul’s students during my days in graduate school at UCLA. Without question, Paul’s teachings have remained exceptionally influential on me for both my own writing and in my subsequent years as a college professor of screenwriting.

            Joe’s latest book, Harry Dean Stanton: Hollywood’s Zen Rebel, won the Bronze Award for biography from the Independent Publisher Book Awards in 2021. 

            Regarding Joe’s novel, Casey’s Last Chance, Edgar Award-winning author Megan Abbott called it, “…pitch-perfect vintage noir.” 

            Among his other notable works, Joe authored the nonfiction Covering for the Bosses: Labor and the Southern Press. And his novella, Crossed Roads, was a finalist in the Pirate’s Alley Faulkner Awards in New Orleans. Joe also edited and contributed to the short story collection Mojo Rising: Contemporary Writers, Vol. II. 

            His articles and short stories have appeared in The Oxford American, Noir City, Alfred Hitchcock Mystery Magazine, USA Today, Baltimore Sun, In These Times, Atlanta Journal-Constitution, and the Guadalajara Reporter. 

            Joe’s feature film screenplay, Memphis Tango, was a finalist in the 2021 Final Draft Screenplay Competition and Toronto and Vancouver independent film festivals.       He served as a congressional correspondent for Gannett News Service in Washington, D.C. and worked for several newspapers across the U.S. South. 

I’ve read both Harry Dean Stanton: Hollywood’s Zen Rebel and Casey’s Last Chance and can tell you that Joe has remarkable range. His book on Harry Dean Stanton is a fascinating, in-depth look at one of the most beloved yet unsung actors Hollywood has ever produced. And Casey’s Last Chance is a ripping, action-filled, page-turner. I highly recommend both books to you.

Ryan won two Daytime Emmys for his writing on WordGirl and another three for his work on the Ellen DeGeneres Show. 

Before writing and producing, Ryan made a living as an actor and composer while failing to make a living playing in indie-rock and bluegrass bands. 

Ryan Raddatz on IMDB https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1347221/

Prior to that, Dan directed Bernard and Huey, scripted by Oscar and Pulitzer Prize-winner Jules Feiffer.  It starred Oscar-winner Jim Rash and David Koechner. 

Dan’s film Between Us, an adaptation of the hit Off-Broadway play, starred Julia Stiles, David Harbour, Taye Diggs and Melissa George. He was mentored by Robert Altman on his first film, Omaha (the movie), which led him to co-found the upstart Slamdance Film Festival.  And his film Open House prompted the Academy Awards to rewrite their rules on the Best Original Musical category. 

Dan co-wrote the critically acclaimed novel I Am Martin Eisenstadt. And he wrote two editions and recorded an audiobook of his non-fiction book, The Cheerful Subversive’s Guide to Independent Filmmaking.

Dan is a graduate of USC’s renowned film school and is a member of the Director’s Guild of America. 

Of note, he’s also worked as a speechwriter for U.S. Senator Tom Harkin. 

He’s the author of four novels, Hitman, The Fixer, Sacrifice, and Baptism. I’ve read Baptism and can tell you it’s a tremendously exciting thriller in the vein of Lee Child, John Grisham, Dan Brown, John Le Carre, and many other great novelists. 

Max is also the ghost writer of comedian and actor Rik Mayall’s bestselling spoof autobiography, Bigger Than Hitler Better Than Christ. Max’s work will form the basis of a one-hour documentary he’s writing and presenting on BBC Radio 4, due for broadcast in June 2024, which is the tenth anniversary of Rik Mayall’s passing. 

Max was part of the writing team for the award-winning Sony PlayStation game, Little Big Planet 3. 

Prior to his writing career, Max spent twelve years devising advertising and marketing campaigns for music festivals, tours, comedy shows and West End theatre productions. He holds a PhD. in Creative Writing from Brunel University, London, where he also teaches. 

Having collaborated with Tony-winning directors such as Jerry Zaks, Randy Skinner, and a favorite StoryBeat guest, Richard Maltby Jr., he's gotten to perform alongside Broadway talents like Joey Fatone, Alfonso Ribeiro, Faith Prince, and Andrea McArdle. And he has found regional theater acclaim with Henry and SALT Award nominations for standout performances in Fun Home and Crazy for You. 

On camera, there have been numerous national commercials, award-winning short films, and co-starring roles on TV shows like Blue Bloods, Law & Order: Criminal Intent, and Imposters. 

In 2022 he received the Communicator Award of Distinction from the Academy of Interactive and Visual Arts for his work in podcasting. He currently produces and hosts three performing arts podcasts: Why I’ll Never Make It, which is in its eighth season, Closing Night, which focuses on Broadway history, and The Spotlight Series in which he talks with those making a difference in the arts and beyond. For the record, I’ve been a guest on Why I’ll Never Make It discussing my career in show business and how I created Jekyll & Hyde, the Musical with Frank Wildhorn.  I’ve got to tell you, it was a lot of fun for me to do the show with Patrick, and I highly urge you to give it a listen.

Doug won a Grammy and 5 Emmy nominations as executive producer, writer and editor of HBO’s “The Defiant Ones.” He executive produced “From Cradle to Stage” with Dave Grohl, and the AppleTV+ series “Home.” This year, 2024, Turner Classic Movies and Max debuted “The Power of Film,” a 6-part series with Professor Howard Suber, for which Doug was executive producer, supervising editor, and writer. 

Doug has also directed dozens of commissioned short films and non-fiction commercials, including an HIV/AIDS awareness campaign which won him his first Emmy.  

For the record, Doug and I know one another from “The Power of Film” as I became involved in this extraordinary project as a Co-Executive Producer. Like Doug, I’m a UCLA MFA Graduate and one of Howard Suber’s former students.

https://dougpray.com/

His latest book, entitled, The End of Everything, An Ironic Black Comedy, is about an older man simply named Fritz, who spends his days in a psychiatric institution plotting his own suicide while contending with the extraordinary insanity all around him. I’ve read The End of Everything and can tell you this is one of the most unique stories I’ve ever had the pleasure to peruse. Deeply intellectual, smartly psychological, and wildly hilarious, The End of Everything had me turning pages and wanting neither the story nor Fritz to end. If you like darkly comic storytelling, I highly urge you to read it.

Previously, Jimi published Confessions of an Ethical Drug Dealer, which is a psychedelic travelogue and memoir. Jimi takes his readers on a journey both geographical and philosophical, while sharing a half-century of adventures in buying, selling and consuming psychedelic drugs. Along the way we learn the difference between smart drugs and dumb drugs, the truth about religion, and how to make a perfect cup of tea.

Jimi Fritz professes to be a heterodoxical polemicist, a sceptical polymath, an iconoclastic antitheist, and an aficionado of Stoicism. 

PLEASE NOTE: This show contains a discussion about assisted suicide. Experiencing thoughts of suicide or self-harm can be distressing.  Speaking with someone about your feelings could help with your distress. Either talk to someone close to you, or there are services with volunteers who are trained to listen. 

If you are considering suicide or self-harm or are in danger, please call your local emergency services or the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at: 1-800-273-TALK (8255) immediately to ensure your safety.        

Please also consider seeking the assistance of a mental health professional. They can provide you with support over a longer period of time.

You may also find it useful to establish a safety plan which can be designed to help you navigate suicidal feelings.  

Jimifritz.ca

William has authored eight nonfiction books (including lectures he gave at Princeton, two of which have been translated into Korean) and one novel, Assassin’s Manuscript, which is a “Dan Brown meets Daniel Silva”-style thriller. No less than Alex Haley, the author of Roots, encouraged him to write it.  I’ve read Assassin’s Manuscript and can tell you it’s an action-packed international page-turner in which politics, religion, and history play essential roles. I highly urge you to check it out.

William’s screenplay, Maggie’s Perfect Match, won the Telluride Indiefest Screenwriting Contest and the Dallas Screenwriting Contest, and it was a Quarter-finalist in the Nicholl and the Austin Screenwriting contests. Not only did William turn Maggie’s Perfect Match into a play, but he’s also adapted it into a musical. 

Since 2000, William has also lectured on the brain at medical schools and medical conferences.

David returned to television as Producer of 21 Jump Street, then Supervising Producer of Beverly Hills, 90210. 

David's first biography, Clara Bow: Runnin' Wild, which was published by Doubleday and edited by no less than Jacqueline Onassis, became a national bestseller. Variety raved, "Only rarely will you find a book that is as total a winner on every level as Clara Bow: Runnin' Wild." 

His second biography, “Bombshell: The Life and Death of Jean Harlow, again, edited by Jacqueline Onassis, was cited by the New York Times as one of the year's notable books.

“It Happened One Night…At M-G-M,” David’s discovery for Vanity Fair of Hollywood’s best-suppressed scandal, brought vindication to rape survivor Patricia Douglas after sixty-six years in hiding and is now considered an historical progenitor of the MeToo movement. The story was adapted into Girl 27, a documentary film that David directed. 

I’ve read David’s excellent book on Clara Bow and seen Girl 27. Both are powerful pieces about Hollywood’s long history in how power players treat both celebrities and those who wish to become celebrated.

David then served as Co-Executive Producer of The L Word and Supervising Producer on the HBO series Boardwalk Empire. His most recent screenplay assignments have been for Martin Scorsese; Leonardo DiCaprio/Warner Bros.; and Working Title.

David is a passionate supporter of film preservation. He serves on the Film Committee of the Museum of Modern Art in New York and Board of Directors at the UCLA Film & Television Archive in Los Angeles.

He was a member of the writing staff for the first two seasons of “The Good Fight.”  He is currently the showrunner and an executive producer of Showtime’s “Your Honor,” starring a favorite StoryBeat guest, Bryan Cranston. 

Joey’s debut novel, “The Local,” a legal thriller about an East Texas patent attorney’s first murder case, was published in the spring of 2022 by Doubleday, and is being developed as a series with CBS Studios and King Size Productions. I’ve read “The Local” and can tell you it’s a brilliant, fast-paced, thoroughly entertaining legal murder mystery very much in the vein of John Grisham and Scott Turow. I highly recommend “The Local” to you and am very glad that it’s being developed for TV. Who knew Intellectual Property law could be so exciting?

Joey and his wife, Abby, are adapting the book “In the Blood: How Two Outsiders Solved a Centuries-Old Medical Mystery and Took on the US Army,” as a feature film with Star Thrower Entertainment.  

For the record, Joey and I have known one another for many years having graduated together from UCLA’s famed MFA in Screenwriting program. 

Megan specializes in all things humorous and finds no greater joy than making kids laugh. She’s also a produced comedy screenwriter and the scriptwriter for the Chicago Thanksgiving Parade. 

Megan holds an MFA in screenwriting from UCLA, where, for the record, Megan she I met while in school together. 

When she’s not writing, or procrastinating from writing, you can find her cooking, hiking, singing, laughing or working part time at a children’s bookstore called Green Bean Books. 

For all those reasons and many more, I’m so very happy to welcome to StoryBeat today my friend, the very funny writer, Megan Woodward. Megan, welcome to the show… 

Twitter and Instagram @womeganwo

www.meganwoodward.com

A year later, on the eve of graduating from USC’s School of Dramatic Arts., her mentor, the late, iconic theatre and film producer and Academy Award-winning actor, John Houseman, launched a swan song of sorts for her with a production of Shakespeare’s All’s Well That Ends Well, in which Madolyn starred in the role of Helena. 

Mr. Houseman had invited various industry professionals to see the show in the 99-seat Stop Gap Theater on campus, including his former protege, film director, Jim Bridges, who, upon seeing Madolyn’s performance, invited her to play the role of John Travolta’s mistress, Pam, in the cult classic, Urban Cowboy. 

Madolyn went on to give multiple award-winning performances in the L.A. theater scene. Among her triumphs, she created the title role of Emily in Stephen Metcalfe’s play of the same name, which was directed by the renowned producer-director, Jack O’Brien, during its premiere at San Diego’s revered Old Globe Theatre.  

When Madolyn was studying with legendary actress, Kim Stanley, and opera singer, Gloria Lane, she became a founding member of L.A. Theatre Works.  

Madolyn also enjoyed a terrific TV and film career in which she found herself starring in features opposite the likes of no less than Steve Martin in All of Me, Roy Scheider in 2010: The Year We Make Contact, Chevy Chase in Funny Farm, Joe Pesci in The Super, and in TV shows like Due South, Cheers, If Tomorrow Comes, and Sadat. But at the height of her powers, all of that was abruptly interrupted by a chronic illness that she fights to this day.

Madolyn resides in Toronto, Canada with her husband, former NHL hockey great, Mark Osborne, and 2 adult daughters who live nearby.

            For the record, Madolyn and I have known one another for more years than either of us will admit, having met and worked together on a few productions while we were both in drama school at the USC.

Most recently, Rob directed and produced the live-action feature, “The Little Mermaid” for Disney, starring Halle Bailey, Melissa McCarthy and Javier Bardem. 

Rob’s other directorial achievements include multiple nominations for award-winning features like: “Memoirs of a Geisha,” “Nine,” “Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides,” which went on to gross over 1 billion dollars worldwide, “Into the Woods,” and “Mary Poppins Returns.”

Rob executive produced, directed, and choreographed the NBC TV event “Tony Bennett: An American Classic,” for which he won his second Directors Guild Award. He’s also won 3 Emmys for Direction, Choreography, and Outstanding Variety, Music or Comedy Special. He directed and choreographed the Disney/ABC movie musical “Annie,” which received 12 Emmy nominations and won the prestigious Peabody Award. For choreographing Annie, Rob also received an Emmy and an American Choreography Award. 

He’s received the Humanitas Prize for co-writing Mary Poppins Returns, and other awards from the Art Directors Guild, the Cinema Audio Society, the Costume Designers Guild, as well as the Annie Award, the Hamilton Award, and the Chita Rivera Award.

Rob’s extensive stage work includes the Broadway productions of “Cabaret,” “Little Me,” “Victor/Victoria,” “Damn Yankees,” “She Loves Me,” “Company,” and “Kiss of the Spiderwoman.” He’s been nominated six times for the Tony Award, and he’s a George Abbott Award winner.

For the record, Rob and I are both graduates of Taylor Allderdice High School here in Pittsburgh. Rob is also an alumni of Carnegie Mellon University’s top-rated School of Drama.

With Matthew Ward he wrote the musicals After The Fair, Merlin’s Apprentice, Rock Odyssey, and Casper (which originally starred Chita Rivera), The Night of the Hunter and Saturday Night at Grossinger’s (with music by Claibe Richardson), and Dodsworth and Time After Time (with music by Jeff Saver), which has recently been revived at the Children's Theatre of Cincinnati.  

In 2005 Stephen and composer David Krane were commissioned to write the first American musical to premiere in the Middle East. The result was Aspire, which was produced in Qatar. Their hilarious cross-cultural experiences resulted in another show titled The Road To Qatar! which has been produced in Dallas, New York and the Edinburgh International Festival (where it was nominated for Best Musical).  His most recent musical, Goin’ Hollywood, was produced in 2023 to rave reviews and sold-out audiences in Dallas.

Stephen has written continuity, narration, and special material for fifteen different Drama League Shows including all-star tributes to Kander and Ebb, Liza Minnelli, Chita Rivera, Liz Smith, Peter Stone, Angela Lansbury, Patti LuPone, Kristin Chenoweth, Audra McDonald and Neil Patrick Harris.  

As an author, Stephen has published That Book About That Girl, I Could Have Sung All Night: the Marni Nixon story (which is currently in development as a feature film), Noel Coward: A Bio Bilbliography, and the Charles Strouse memoir Put On a Happy Face. 

A prolific short story writer, Stephen’s first novel Mary & Ethel…and Mikey Who? was published in January 2024.  I’ve read Mary & Ethel…and Mikey Who? It’s what’s you call a real hoot, especially for lovers of old broads on old Broadway. It’s the most entertaining time-slipping story I’ve read since Kurt Vonnegut’s Slaughterhouse Five.

Stephen is a recipient of a Gilman-Gonzales Falla Commendation for musical theatre as well as the prestigious Edward Kleban Award. 

www.stephencolewriter.org

https://www.facebook.com/steve.cole.5076798

https://www.instagram.com/stephencolewrit

Maria was one of the original supervising producers of the mega TV hit, Survivor. She’s a member of both the Producers and Directors Guilds of America, a Fellow National Member of The Explorers Club, and an Advisor for the Transformational Travel Council.  

Maria holds an MFA in film from Art Center College of Design and a PhD in Conscious-Centered Living from the University of Sedona. Additional studies include training in Mindfulness Meditation, Primordial Sound Meditation, Happiness Studies, Positive Neuroplasticity, Spiritual Psychology, Positive Psychology, the Science of Happiness, and an Inner MBA from Mindful NYU.

Maria recently published the book, Take a Shot at Happiness, in which she shares her insights on being happy learned during her time in the entertainment industry, observing people and events, traveling, and studying wellbeing. It’s a practical guide for walking a creative path to happiness through taking photographs with your phone camera, journaling about things that matter, and being part of a supportive community. I’ve read Take a Shot at Happiness, and can tell you it’s filled with inspirational and motivational advice on how to make your life better, more fulfilling, and happier. I highly recommend it to you.

In her own happiness journey, Maria finds joy in giving back. She’s walked over 7500 miles to raise funds for charity, including running marathons on all seven continents. Maria's adventurous life has also involved climbing the 15,000-foot trail to Machu Picchu, leading African safaris, summiting Mt. Kilimanjaro twice, and trekking to Everest Base Camp. Maria is a genuine inspiration for those seeking to live their best lives. 

 http://takeashotathappiness.app

www.mariabaltazzi.com/

Richard’s appeared in legendary venues from Atlantic City’s Taj Mahal and Hilton to Carnegie Hall. And he’s shared stages with some of the biggest names in show business including Carol Channing and Lesley Ann Warren. And he’s appeared on the Windstar Cruise ship, Las Vegas to Windsor Ontario and all points in between. 

Because of Covid he created his popular virtual series, Richard Skipper Celebrates...with over 900 episodes under his belt.

In New York, his live events include: Richard Skipper Celebrates, featuring the biggest names in cabaret and theater. 

Prior to Covid, Richard performed his highly acclaimed live talk/variety show at the Laurie Beechman Theatre. Directed originally by the late great Jay Rogers, Richard starred in The Magic of Believing (which was originally called From Conway to Broadway), as well as in the fully staged concert version of Hello, Dolly! at The Revision Theater in Asbury Park. Richard is an expert on the history of Hello, Dolly! and has done many talkbacks about it. 

His most recent solo project is, Still Going Strong: Richard Skipper Celebrates 60 Years of Hello, Dolly!  This current production was co-conceived by director James Beaman along with Musical Director Dan Pardo.  

Among Richard’s achievements: He won the Turner Classic Movies Classic Film Festival Competition. He interviewed and helped to promote the release of the CD of a favorite StoryBeat guest, Julie Budd.  He’s been named Cabaret Scenes Magazine “Top of the Century Premiere Cabaret Acts,” and Cabaret Hotline’s “Top Ten Cabaret Performers.”  Richard has also won 4 MAC Awards and a Bistro Award.

Aside from teaching privately, Richard also presents master classes combining positivity and creativity. 

‘Niyi has served as Visiting Artistic Director to several theatre companies including: K3 at Malmo Hogskola in Sweden, the National Theatre of Nigeria and The Black Box Theatre in Bermuda.   He’s also the founding Artistic Director of the African Arts Ensemble in New York City.   

‘Niyi’s plays include: Ouray, written in collaboration with the Southern Ute Tribal Council. Commissioned and sponsored by the British Council, it toured England. And also Preemptive, a drama about Islamophobia, initially developed at the Indiana University Playwrights lab and staged at London’s West End Shaw Theatre. 

‘Niyi’s Off-Broadway writing and directing credits, include, Booth!  a musical on the reflections of Edwin Booth after the assassination of Lincoln (written in collaboration with Barbara Harbach & Jonathan Yordy); Miriam Makeba-Mama Africa–the musical,” about the struggles of the anti-apartheid singer and civil rights advocate. 

‘Niyi’s also made features and documentary films, including Black Studies USA, and Pennies for the Boatman. His most recent documentary Ota Benga – Human at the Zoo, is the true story of an African kidnapped from the continent and put on display at the Bronx Zoo. 

‘Niyi is the Founding Director of the Africa World Documentary Film Festival which is in its 14th season.  The festival screens in numerous countries worldwide. 

He’s the author of 2 books, The Music and Social Criticism of African Musician Fela Kuti, and Ola Rotimi's African Theatre: The Development of an Indigenous Aesthetic. Further, ‘Niyi has contributed numerous chapters and articles to books, journals and magazines.  

'Niyi’s a full member of the Society for Stage Directors and Choreographers, and he's also a recipient of the Kennedy Center Merit Award in Directing. 

He's worked on TV shows like South Park, The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson, Out of This World, Cheers, and on movies such as Catch Me If You Can, Legally Blonde, Cast Away, The Pelican Brief, Groundhog Day and more.  

In 2015, he created the hit comedy series Over My Dead Body, which streams on Amazon Prime. About Over My Dead Body Norman Lear said, "This is the best idea for a TV series that I can remember. It's absolutely hilarious." 

In 2021, Steven delivered a TEDx talk in Philadelphia entitled "Square One at 60.” 

Andrew’s most recent book, Vitagraph, America’s First Great Motion Picture Studio, received the Peter C. Rollins Award for the best book of 2022 by the Southwest Popular/American Culture Association. 

I’ve read both of Andrew’s fascinating and entertaining books, and can tell you that, despite my having been a student of films and Hollywood for more years than I care to admit, I learned a great deal about the beginnings of the movies that I had no clue about. If you like knowing all about Hollywood, I highly recommend both books to you. 

Andrew also contributed five essays to American Cool, published in conjunction with an exhibit at the Smithsonian’s National Portrait Gallery. And he’s written for various publications, including the Los Angeles Times and Quarterly Review of Film and Video.

Andrew has lectured at the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, the L.A. Central Library, Egyptian Theatre in Hollywood, Santa Fe Film Festival, and the Shubert Archive in New York. In the United Kingdom, he’s lectured at the Oxford Literary Festival and London’s Cinema Museum. He’s also programmed films and was honored at the Pordenone Silent Film Festival in Italy. For several years he has taught film history at universities and colleges in the Los Angeles area. 

Rosanna’s work has been featured in Gargoyle Magazine, the Brevity Nonfiction Blog, The Sun Magazine, The Examined Life Journal, and JuxtaProse. Her essay, Holy, is a prize winner in the TSR Review and nominated for the 2022 Notable in Best American Essays. Other writing can be found in the Best Small Fictions Anthology 2021. She received an Honorable Mention for The Tiferet Journal’s 2019 Writing Contest. She’s also a Short Story Finalist for The Masters Review Anthology, the 47th New Millennium Writing Awards, and a Pushcart Prize nominee. 

Rosanna’s plays, which have been seen on stages in Tokyo, New York, Seattle, and other cities, include: The Biggest Little House and The Innocence of Ghosts which was staged Off-Broadway in New York and filmed for inclusion in the Lincoln Center Theatre on Film Library. 

Rosanna also happens to be a licensed Acupuncturist from the California Acupuncture College in L.A. and The Zhejiang College of Acupuncture in Hangzhou, China.

 www.rosannastaffa.com

Rosanna’s plays are published by Heinemann and Smith & Kraus. 

Recently, he released his latest book, The Book of Top 10 Beatles Lists, which contains dozens of top ten lists from pop-culture notables, like Pete Best, Dick Cavett, Tommy Chong, Melanie, and even Dave Winfield, all laying out their favorite songs by the Beatles, who are, for me, the greatest rock band of all time. 

Among all of his other accomplishments, Charles has produced Beatles Conventions and Festivals since 1978, and he’s been the organizer and host of the “Magical History Tour” since 1983, bringing Beatles fans to Liverpool and London. 

Charles published and edited the magazine, “Good Day Sunshine, one of the world’s most famous Beatles/Sixties magazines. He has also promoted Monkees conventions since the early ‘80s. 

As an MC, Charles has shared the stage with countless entertainment figures, including Charles Grodin, Geraldo Rivera, and the late Danny Aiello. 

For the record, Steve was part of a group that Charles led on an outstanding Dracula tour of Transylvania. Charles also leads GHOSTours in England.

           Terry also continues in her role as a consultant at Turner Classic Movies, where Steven Spielberg, Martin Scorsese and Paul Thomas Anderson advise the channel. 

Recent movies that Terry has worked on with Mr. Spielberg include: The Fabelmans, West Side Story, Lincoln, The Post, and Amblin/Universal’s award-winning 1917.

            Previously, Terry was President of CBS Films, where she oversaw the production, marketing, and distribution of such titles as: The Woman in Black, The Duff, Last Vegas, Hell or High Water, At Eternity’s Gate, Salmon Fishing in the Yemen, the Coen Brothers’ Inside Llewyn Davis, and Ron Howard’s documentary, Pavarotti.

            Prior to forming the branding, publicity, strategy, and media and digital positioning company, 7570, Inc., Terry served for ten years as the Head of Marketing for DreamWorks SKG where she oversaw the campaigns for all live-action and animated features, including Saving Private Ryan, American Beauty, Gladiator, A Beautiful Mind, and Shrek, which won the first Oscar for Best Animated Feature.

            Terry began her career with a nine-year stint at the Walt Disney Company and Walt Disney Studios.

For several years, she taught marketing at UCLA (which is her alma mater, and for the record, mine, too). Recently, alongside Scott Feinberg, Terry was a guest instructor at Chapman University, Dodge College.

Terry also happens to be married to a favorite StoryBeat guest, the brilliant writer, and photographer, Andy Marx.

Jimmy's second Off-Broadway show The Thing About Men, won the New York Outer Critics Circle award for Best Musical.  His latest show, Welcome to the Big Dipper, co-written with John Daggett and one of my favorite StoryBeat guests, Cat Filloux, is set to open at the York Theatre in Manhattan in November 2024. 

Jimmy’s also a sought-after performer, presenting entertaining programs that combine classical and popular music. Recent engagements include: Merkin Concert Hall, the 92nd Street Y, Steinway Hall, and the National Arts Club.  The New York Times called Jimmy’s performances, “Brilliant.” 

He’s a graduate of the Manhattan School of Music, where he studied with noted pianist, Constance Keene. He’s also a published poet, with several of his poems appearing in the New York Times Metropolitan Diary. Jimmy reads two of his poems during the show. 

He's also a collector of historic letters and interesting people.  

Please stick around at the end of the show because Jimmy has generously lent us a wonderful song sampler from Welcome to the Big Dipper for your enjoyment. 

 https://www.linkedin.com/in/brandencobb1/

In 2006, Michelle made her feature film directing debut with, How to Go Out on a Date in Queens, winning the L.A. Film Awards' Best Acting and Best Movie awards. Her 2013 film, HelloHerman, catalogs the effect that peer abuse, parental neglect and the general coarsening of society has on a typical high school student.  

Michelle has acted in and directed over thirty plays in Los Angeles and New York, with her favorite acting credit cited as the Dramalogue award-winning Tennessee Williams' The Rose Tattoo. 

Among her other award-winning stage work, she produced The Night of the Black Cat at Edgemar, she directed the world premiere of Mental the Musical, and she wrote and directed You're on the Air, an improvisation-based comedy.

Michelle also produced and acted in the award-winning short Dos Corazones, directed by Larry Moss. And she was voted favorite acting coach by the readers of Backstage. 

Notable projects Michelle has directed include: Bad Impulse with Paul Sorvino, Ticket to the Circus, a one-woman play about the life of Norris Church Mailer, starring Anne Archer.  And most recently she produced and directed the feature, Miranda's Victim, a biographical crime drama depicting the origins of the well-known Miranda warning. The movie stars Abigail Breslin, Luke Wilson, Andy Garcia, Donald Sutherland, Ryan Phillippe, Kyle MacLachlan, Mireille Enos, Taryn Manning, and Emily VanCamp. I’ve seen Miranda’s Victim and can tell you it’s an intense and deeply emotional story about how the legal system can be impacted and changed by overcoming injustice amid challenging circumstances. 

www.michelledanner.com

www.edgemarcenter.org

John is best known for his classic comedy writing textbook, The Comic Toolbox: How to be Funny Even if You’re Not. Now available in five languages, John’s “bible of comedy writing” continues to be a definitive source of information and inspiration for TV, film and fiction writers. John’s been a meaningful change-agent for tens of thousands of writers around the world.  

An international consultant in television and film script development, John has worked for TV networks, film schools, production companies and film funding bodies in 37 countries on five continents. He created his own situation comedy in Romania, ran the writing staff of the Russian version of Married… with Children, and co-created two social action TV dramas in Nicaragua. 

John’s scriptwriting credits run from sit-coms to episodic drama, and from web-based programming to theatrical-release screenplays, feature animation and documentaries, including the provocative Misery Loves Comedy. 

His latest books include The Little Book of Standup and The Book of Practice: How to Do Better What You Want to do Well.  I’ve read the Book of Practice and found it to be both thoroughly entertaining as well as greatly inspiring. If you’re looking to kick your productivity and success rate into high gear, I recommend you check it out.

John is a graduate of Carnegie Mellon University, a member of the WGA, and a gold-medal athlete in the sport of ultimate frisbee.  

Thaao’s infamous dual roles are on top of playing a wide-range of characters on various TV series, movies, and plays, including two other daytime series, General Hospital and Santa Barbara, as well as appearances on the 1980’s prime time reboot of Mission Impossible, in which Thaao played master-of-disguise Nicholas Black. Other notable appearances include the films Slow Dancing in the Big City, Ken Russell’s Altered States, The Bell Jar, Sadat, Sidney Sheldon’s Memories of Midnight, Under Siege, Tribe, and as Dame Edna’s lover, Colonel Godowni in the cult classic Les Patterson Saves the World. 

A world traveler and celebrated host of Hollywood dinner parties, Thaao has authored his memoir Places: The Journey of My Days, My Lives, and also the cookbook Seducing Celebrities One Meal at a Time.

Thaao, whose family were Greek immigrants to Australia, has poured his passions for all things Greece into a new podcast, The Lost Treasures, a fantastic detective story-style exploration of Greece’s greatest contribution to the world’s literature, the poet Homer.  The Lost Treasures explores the Iliad and the Odyssey through the amazing life of German archaeologist Heinrich Schliemann, who changed history when he discovered the real-life locations and treasures in the epic poems.

Written and narrated by Thaao, the podcast draws on his exclusive access to 60,000 pages of long-hidden documents and diaries.  

Richard has written and directed the feature film, Roswell Delirium, as a response to both his own journey back from PTSD and the global response to the 2020 pandemic.  The film stars 1980’s legends like Anthony Michael Hall, Lisa Whelchel, Dee Wallace, Reginald Vel Johnson, and Sam Jones. I’ve seen Roswell Delirium and can tell you it’s a complex story set in the 1980s that explores the emotional depths of a strong-willed young woman driven to uncover her own truth, even as she faces her own destruction. 

She's the author of You Beneath Your Skin, an Amazon-bestselling crime novel, which has been optioned for screens by Endemol Shine. Her next crime novel, The Blue Bar was published by Thomas & Mercer USA. It received a starred review from Publishers Weekly. Goodreads named it one of 2023's Most Anticipated Mysteries & Thrillers. The sequel, The Blue Monsoon, is out now and receiving positive buzz from readers.

He currently has a new comedy special “Unassisted Living” that is available now on Tubi!  And his Award-Winning special “It’s Me Dad” played on KCET as their Father’s Day programming for several years in a row. 

Fritz also co-hosts a wonderful podcast called Media Path with Louise Palanker in which they have insightful conversations with great guests about meaningful subjects.

If you want to see Fritz perform live, you can catch him at the El Portal Theater in North Hollywood in 2024 on February 25, March 24, April 28, and May 26.

I’ve seen Lifeboat and Hunger Ward and can tell you they are both powerful and insightful explorations of people working to prevail under the most challenging and harrowing of circumstances. I highly recommend Skye’s excellent work to you.

As a Fulbright Research Scholar, Skye directed the film Bombhunters and has worked with organizations as varied as the Sundance Institute, the U.S. Institute of Peace, and Mountainfilm.  He’s an honorary member of SAMS (the Syrian American Medical Society) for his work with Syrian refugees. And he’s a Distinguished Alumnus at his alma mater Eastern Oregon University for documentary work.

 Skye also happens to be a member of the Documentary Branch of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.

Before filmmaking, Skye cut fire-lines as a member of a HotShot wildland fire crew. 

In addition, Shelley has guest-starred on numerous TV shows and hosted eight infomercials and national talk radio programs.

She’s perhaps best known for her work on the game shows Supermarket Sweep, Liar's Club, Love Connection, Breakaway, Outdoor Outtakes, Trivia Unwrapped, Balderdash, Show Me the Money, and The Million Second Quiz. Shelley was twice a contestant on The Dating Game. And in 1985, for her work on Breakaway, she was nominated for a Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Special Class Writing. 

Shelley's autobiographical memoir, My Peacock Tale: Secrets Of An NBC Page, details her time at NBC in the 1970s where, as a Page, she worked on several variety shows, talk shows, and game shows such as The Tonight Show, The Gong Show, The Midnight Special, Hollywood Squares, Password, Sanford and Son, and Chico and the Man. 

In addition to heavily-annotated editions of classics like the stories of Sherlock Holmes, Dracula, Frankenstein, the work of H. P. Lovecraft, and most recently, Robert Louis Stevenson’s The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, he’s edited numerous anthologies of classic and contemporary fiction. 

Les served as co-editor of the 8-volume Haunted Library of Horror Classics series sponsored by the Horror Writers Association and published by Poisoned Pen Press. He’s also the current editor of the Library of Congress Crime Classics series (now spanning more than 15 titles), co-published by the Library of Congress and Poisoned Pen Press. 

Les is currently Secretary of the Southern California Chapter of Mystery Writers of America and is actively involved in the Baker Street Irregulars, the international literary society. He also served as Treasurer of the Horror Writers Association for 10 years. 

When not practicing law (which is his “day job”), Les is a frequent lecturer at colleges and libraries.

Michael’s musical influences include Miles Davis, John Coltrane, Eric Dolphy, Sun Ra, and Yusef Lateef.

More than a composer and musician, Michael was also a working firefighter for 38 years and is now Retired Lieutenant Michael Mason of the Downers Grove, Illinois Fire Department. He was one of the first responders from the Chicago area to fly to New York City after the World Trade Center Towers were attacked. There he worked with the New York City Fire Department and Port Authority for many weeks. You can read more about his firefighting efforts at ricofirerescue.com.  

 Over the past 10-plus years Michael’s taught thousands of recruits at the Fire Academy to become first responders and has taught veterans how to save each other at the scene of any type of tragic incident. 

Please be sure to stick around at the end of this episode for a special treat. Michael has lent us his beautiful song, Freedom, from his new album, Impermanence. Freedom has also been turned into a music video as a tribute to the people of Ukraine.  The video, which can be seen on fireflute.com, has been approved by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences for Grammy voting in the Best Music Video category, and Impermanence is up for voting in the "Best Contemporary Jazz Album" category.

He has a PhD from Cambridge University for research into the work of the celebrated German architectural historian, Sir Nikolaus Pevsner, about whom he’s published four books. And Stephen has produced another four books on the writings of the conservation campaigner and UK poet laureate, Sir John Betjeman. He also studied Graphic Design and Architecture and has taught as an adjunct for Temple University, Boston University, and the University of Kent. 

Stephen launched Envelope Books in 2020, with a philosophy that states, “What is a book but a letter from a writer to a reader?” As such, EnvelopeBooks, which is a generalist micro-publisher—and postal service of the mind—is a spin-off from the UK’s largest books magazine, Booklaunch. The imprint aims to select manuscripts from every corner of the mental map, branding them with their stunning, trademark envelope covers, before getting their books directly into the hands of eager readers. 

Set up to help authors who have struggled to navigate the obstacles thrown up by mainstream publishers and agents, EnvelopeBooks is flexible and open to all fiction and non-fiction submissions. 

Joe hails from Sewickley, Pennsylvania.  He’s been a paperboy, journalism student, university newspaper writer/photographer, magazine junior executive, TV/Film actor/writer/producer, bartender, landman and salesman, so he’s heard and told his share of stories.

His most recent work, titled Just Trash, appeared in Roger Williams University’s literary magazine, Mount Joy.  His story, Just Outside Lisbon, appeared in Oregon Greystone Press. And in 2017, a series of his essays were published in Boomers, edited by a favorite StoryBeat guest, Robert Crane.

Joe continues to write, working on short stories, poetry, screenplays and his memoir. 

While attending the University of Minnesota, working nights in a parking ramp and pumping iron at Dove’s Bicep Gym, Al also performed his original songs in the same coffee houses on the west bank of the Mississippi that Bob Dylan had played just a few years earlier. The artistic director of the Minnesota Renaissance Festival attended a theatrical presentation of Al’s original works at Theatre in the Round and hired him on the spot.

Al began performing at Renaissance Faires as a member of the group, “Pumpkin,” writing original Renaissance music. After less than a season, he noted the greater crowd impact of performers like Penn and Teller, Avner the Eccentric, the Flying Karamazov Brothers, and Puke and Snot. As a result, Smee and Blogg were formed out of frustration and a desire to present something unique. The tandem comedic vaudeville act performed for 36 years, singing and dancing across the U.S. and Canada at 56 renaissance festivals and medieval faires.  After the act stopped performing in 2013, Al carried on as the Singing Executioner at renaissance and medieval faires in Texas and Oklahoma to this day.

For six years, he was the co-founder and general manager of the Tennessee Renaissance Festival. Over the past two decades Al has performed voice-overs for radio commercials for various festivals. And for the past decade he’s served as the master of properties for Texas Ballet Theatre. 

They moved to Los Angeles and landed their first job by writing the MTV movie 2gether, a spoof about a fictional boy band. It spawned a concert tour, two top-40 albums, and a TV series created and executive produced by the Gunns.

Since that time Brian and Mark have transitioned from TV into film. Journey 2: The Mysterious Island, starring Dwayne Johnson and Michael Caine – a modern-day take on the 19th-century Jules Verne novel – was their first widely released theatrical movie. It was a box-office hit, with global grosses of over $330 million.

Recently, the Gunns wrote and executive produced the superhero horror movie Brightburn, starring Elizabeth Banks, which has become a worldwide success. Brightburn delivers an unusual and unexpectedly eerie twist on the superhero genre. 

Brian and Mark are currently working on a film project for Warner Bros to star Jason Momoa and John Cena, as well as writing and developing a TV series for Amazon.

Greg was Director of Series Development at Walt Disney Television Animation, where he created and produced Gargoyles.  Later, he wrote the Gargoyles and Gargoyles: Bad Guys comic books for SLG, and the Gargoyles and Gargoyles: Dark Ages comics for Dynamite.

Greg developed, produced, wrote, story-edited and voice acted in Sony and Marvel’s The Spectacular Spider-Man.  At Warner Bros. he held the same jobs on four seasons of Young Justice, while writing the comics Young Justice and Young Justice: Targets for DC.

Greg was a writer and Executive Producer on the first season of Star Wars Rebels for Lucasfilm and Disney and wrote the spin-off comic Star Wars Kanan, plus Starbrand & Nightmask for Marvel.

Greg’s first novel Rain of the Ghosts was followed by its sequel, Spirits of Ash and Foam.  He’s also written two World of Warcraft novels and two Magic: The Gathering novels.

            He runs the nonprofit New York and London summer-based Oxford Shakespeare Company, which trains actors and presents Shakespeare plays in historic locations, including Hamlet in Elsinore, Macbeth in Birnam Wood, and Richard III on Bosworth Field. 

            He’s lectured on the Shakespeare authorship question at Harvard University, Chautauqua Institution and the Edinburgh Skeptics Society. 

            His new book, The Starre, The Moone, The Sunne, is an Elizabethan murder mystery, the solving of which just happens to reveal the identity of the real “William Shakespeare.” I’ve read The Starre, The Moone, The Sunne and can tell you it’s uniquely entertaining, especially as Ron has written it as if he was an author living in the Elizabethan era. Funny, dramatic, raucous, and filled with an amazing theatrical energy, I highly recommend it to you. 

            And if you’re into the Bard of Avon, please check out Ron’s excellent book, The Shakespeare Masterclasses, featuring fantastic insights from 13 of the world’s greatest classical actors.

            Among some of Ron’s more unusual achievements, he taught Christopher Reeve to smoke, was told by Groucho Marx to give somebody the finger, and nearly ran Michael York off a mountaintop in a toboggan.

www.rondestro.com

            Catherine’s new play, “How to Eat an Orange,” will open at La MaMa Theatre in New York City, and her new musical “Welcome to the Big Dipper” (written with composer Jimmy Roberts of, “I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change” fame) will premiere Off-Broadway at the York Theatre in New York. It’s a National Alliance for Musical Theatre finalist. 

            Catherine’s play, “White Savior” is nominated for The Venturous Play List. Her many plays have been produced around the U.S. and internationally. I’ve read her play Lemkin’s House and can tell you it’s an intense and engaging exploration of the politics of genocide through the surreal landscape of the mind of Raphael Lemkin, the man who invented the word genocide.

            Catherine’s also the librettist for four produced operas, including New Arrivals, Where Elephants Weep, and The Floating Box. Her works have been played on Cambodian national TV, on Broadway on Demand, and chosen for Opera News Critic’s Choice. And her opera, “Orlando,” is the winner of the 2022 Grawemeyer Award--the first opera by a woman composer and woman librettist in the history of the Vienna Staatsoper. 

            Catherine has traveled for her plays to countries including Bosnia, Cambodia, Guatemala, Haiti, Iraq, Morocco, Northern Ireland, and Sudan and South Sudan on an overseas reading tour with the University of Iowa's International Writing Program. 

            Catherine received her French Baccalaureate in Philosophy with Honors in Toulon, France, and is the co-founder/co-director of Theatre Without Borders. 

            David is an ordained Presbyterian minister and has worked as a pastor, university lecturer, and seminary professor. 

            As a performer, David has sung, danced, and acted on Broadway, television, and film and has been a talk show host. 

            He’s written for numerous publications and is an award-winning author with four books published including: Annie Ruth’s Truths, Power for Life, I’m a Black Man, Who Are You?, and Voicemaster. I’ve read Power for Life and Annie Ruth’s Truths and highly recommend David’s excellent writing to you. His books are easy reading pleasures with positive, upbeat messages. He’s also recently finished writing a new musical and is soon to publish an illustrated book of poetry.  

            David and his wife, Dr. Jeannine Goode-Allen, run in-person and virtual retreats called “Live Your Dreams” and have recently completed building the Good and Sharp Studios, a campus for spirituality and the arts in Boulder, Colorado.  

            David’s a graduate of the University of Southern California, where he was a Drama major in the School of Performing Arts. He’s also earned a Master of Divinity degree, a Masters in Special Education, and a Doctorate in Ministry. 

            For the record, David and I have been friends for a very long time having met and worked together while we were both Drama students at USC.

            By the way, David and Jennine have very generously offered a free gift to anyone listening to this podcast, it’s a roadmap to your creativity. To find the link to receive your free gift, please check out David’s episode here at storybeat.net. 

FREE GIFT: https://goodandsharpstudios.lpages.co/10-ways-to-tap-into-creativity/ 

            Amy uses paper, paint and other materials to explore her fascination and obsession with texture, pattern, and color. The natural world is a clear source for Amy’s work. She’s fascinated by the flow of water, the shape of beehives, and the organic irregularity of plants, flowers, rock formations, barnacles, moss, and seaweed. Her pieces bring to mind aerial landscape views, satellite imagery, and biological cellular processes. 

            Amy’s work can be found in hospitals, corporate offices, private collections and museums worldwide. Her latest project was developing a site-specific installation for the Fuller Craft Museum in Brockton, Massachusetts. She had a vision of her work coming to life beyond the walls and becoming sculptural. Her multiple award winning installation, “Shifting,” is a result of her exploration. 

            Amy’s work is astonishing to look at, brimming with a vibrant kinetic energy, and always breathtakingly beautiful. 

            During Peter’s tenure at CTC he’s produced more than 187 shows, brought to life more than 70 new works from commission to fully developed stage productions, served more than 5 million children and community members, founded innovative educational programming, and championed equity, diversity and inclusion efforts to eliminate barriers to participation for those underrepresented in theatre. Peter’s passion has been at the core of CTC's mission to educate, challenge, and inspire young people and their communities through extraordinary theatre experiences.

            Peter and the CTC have worked with more than 100 writers including: Cheryl West, Nilo Cruz, Naomi Iizuka, Larissa FastHorse, Itamar Moses, Jerome Hairston, Barry Kornhauser, Lloyd Suh, Will Power, Liz Duffy Adams, Carlos Murillo, Kia Corthron, Philip Dawkins, and Greg Banks. 

            A major new initiative, Generation Now, is a partnership between CTC and Penumbra, Latino Theatre Company, Mai Yi, and Native Voices at the Autry to commission and develop 16 new plays and musicals by Black, Indigenous, AAPI and Latinx writers for a multigenerational audience. These new works will have a life for years to come. 

            Peter also introduced preschool programming to CTC, commissioning original works and bringing in extraordinary preschool productions from across the globe. CTC has also become a major presenter of acclaimed international productions from Europe, Africa, and Asia. 

            He also had the distinct honor of spending 2-years with Sanford Meisner in a professional hand-picked acting class.

            On camera, Skip co-starred in Jim Carrey’s first film Once Bitten. TV credits include: The Guiding Light, the mini-series, The Blue and the Grey, and host for Nickelodeon’s Ace-Award winning Think Fast. He’s also been seen in over 100 national network commercials, and he’s recorded over 1000 voice-overs. Skip even spent 3-seasons working as Santa Claus alongside the Rockettes in the Radio City Christmas Spectacular in Chicago.

            A graduate of the Vancouver Film School, Skip co-wrote, directed and produced the low budget feature film, Love at Second Sight. He then became Executive Producer for Kewazinga, a vision technology company that developed an interactive 36+ camera system for network broadcast and early internet applications. He’s worked with Sun Microsystems, NBC, ABC, ESPN, the X-Games, the NY Mets, the Golf Channel, the USGA, the NHL All-Star Game, Nike, the US Navy and more.  

            He then shifted his focus to giving Personal Growth and Leadership Development seminars. Skip has worked directly with over 25,000 clients, taught over 1000 workshops, and made 1000 personal appearances. Clients include the IMDB, World Bank for Latin America, and a 2-Year Leadership Development immersion for the Canadian Department of Justice. 

            She subsequently headed to Los Angeles where she performed in television and theatre, winning numerous acting awards, including two Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle Awards. But in time, a stage show she did in L.A., directed by the late, great Orson Bean, moved Off-Broadway, and Lisa then spent more than a decade in Gotham once again. 

            Occasionally, when in New York, Lisa performs “All of Us,” a piece that she co-wrote via Zoom with 6 other New York actress-writers during the two-year Covid lockdown. 

            Other New York Credits include: Radiant Baby, Enter Laughing, The Musical, Standing on Ceremony, The Gondoliers, and Fun with Dick and Jane.

            Stuart co-wrote with Jack Viertel The Secret Life of the American Musical and directed it. He also he directed Golden Rainbow in its workshop. 

            For the York he adapted and directed Subways Are for Sleeping, It’s a Bird, It’s a Plane, It’s Superman, Minnie’s Boys, Silk Stockings, and Bajour. 

            On Broadway, Stuart co-wrote the book to Starmites, which received 6 Tony Nominations, and The Radio City Music Hall Easter Show.  

            For TV, he’s directed sitcoms like Frasier and Veronica’s Closet. He also created special material for PBS’s Great Performances, An Evening at the Pops starring Jason Alexander, and Diahann Carroll: Both Sides Now!

            For ten seasons Stuart has worked as a Director/Dramaturg and/or writer at the Eugene O’Neill Theatre Center-National Music Theatre Center Conference. And for nine years he’s been a panelist for the ASCAP/Disney Musical Theatre Workshop.

            Current Projects include: Industrial Strength, The Alice B. Toklas Cookbook, The Bay Street Theatre-Youth Workshops: Creating Theatre Magic, and Second Time Around workshops.

            After discovering that being a lawyer fed her bank account but starved her soul, she ditched that life to begin writing lyrics, finding multi-platinum success with artists from Barbie to Barbara Streisand.

            Freelance life brought its own challenges: unpredictable income, uncontrollable marketplace changes, and too few hours spent with her husband and sons.  She yearned to increase her revenue, decrease her stress, and have more flexibility.  That’s when she discovered Network Marketing, through a company that aligned with her core values of healthy living inside and out.  After following her company’s blueprint to create an extra six figure revenue stream and seven figure asset, Amy felt called to reach a wider audience and assist others looking for solutions.  

            Amy’s book No Degree Required: Network Marketing The Ivy League Way is a #1 Amazon best seller.  I’ve read No Degree Required and can tell you it’s a fast-paced and entertaining look at Network Marketing. I highly recommend No Degree Required to anyone interested in the world of Network Marketing or looking for inspiration in it.

            Additionally, Amy and her husband, J. Todd Harris, co-produce in both theater and film. On stage, they’ve co-produced Heathers, The Musical; Phenomenal Woman – The Maya Angelou Story, the Broadway bound Hippest Trip: The Soul Train Musical and a revival of her own Broadway musical, Dr. Zhivago. Their work in film includes On Fire, the acclaimed autobiography of world-renowned inspirational speaker John O’Leary.           

            Amy’s newest venture, AmySentMe, a health and happiness concierge service, helps people up level their lives and businesses with hand-picked, pre-vetted services from psychic mediums to sober coaches, book writing to boudoir photography, and health reboots to healing retreats.

            Please be sure to stick around at the end of the show because Amy has generously lent us one of her songs, Sands of Time, for you to enjoy.

            His debut book, The Cinema of Tom DiCillo: Include Me Out, was released in 2018.  Wayne followed it with well-received works on subjects like Burt Reynolds, cinematographer Nick McLean, the Nightmare on Elm Street franchise, and legendary Hollywood filmmaker Walter Hill. I’ve read both Welcome to Elm Street and Walter Hill: The Cinema of a Hollywood Maverick and can tell you that they’re both deeply researched, entertainingly detailed looks at how influential filmmakers create the dreams the world loves to watch. I highly recommend Wayne’s work to you.

            Look for the release of Wayne’s latest book, Hired Guns: Portraits of Women in Alternative Music, co-written with his best friend, acclaimed musician Amanda Kramer, who’s been the keyboardist/vocalist of The Psychedelic Furs, 10,000 Maniacs, Siouxsie Sioux, The Golden Palominos, and Information Society. 

            He’s also busy writing three upcoming books, including another collaboration with Amanda Kramer, which is a study of the evolution of film soundtracks in the revolutionary New Hollywood era. 

            Wayne’s also working with cinematographer Roy Wagner on a biography documenting Wagner’s acclaimed career, called Beyond the Shadows, as well as a critical/cultural overview of the Halloween movies entitled, The Ongoing Halloween Franchise: 13 Films and Counting.

Jeff’s televised PBS concerts include: The 1959 Broadway Songbook with music director Alex Rybeck, as well as American Songbook: Stephen Sondheim co-starring KT Sullivan, and Michael Feinstein’s Live at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center. 

Jeff also toured with Broadway’s Shauna Hicks in their Symphony Pops Concert I Got Rhythm: Mickey & Judy’s Hollywood. 

For his exceptional live performances, and for directing the shows of other outstanding performers, Jeff has won multiple MAC, Bistro, and BroadwayWorld Cabaret Awards and The Noël Coward Foundation Cabaret Award. 

He’s released four solo albums, including Dancing in the Dark, and most recently I Know Things Now: My Life in Sondheim’s Words. 

Jeff can also be seen performing in the movie Joshua Tree, 1951: A Portrait of James Dean. 

            He served as the Artistic Program Director for the New Dramatists from 1982-1985 where he worked with numerous leading American playwrights in their early years.

Casey’s the recipient of the Carnegie Mellon University Commitment to New Playwrights Award, as well as the winner of two Emmy Awards and many nominations for his extensive work in television.   

            He’s a past Vice President of the Directors Guild of America and a past trustee of the National Association of Television Arts and Sciences.  

            At Primary Stages Casey launched the Einhorn School of Performing Arts, the Fordham/Primary Stages MFA in Playwriting program, and the Primary Stages Off-Broadway Oral History Project, which has documented over 190 interviews with the leaders of the Off-Broadway movement. 

            Casey’s taught at many universities including Duke, Columbia and NYU, and he’s currently an Associate Fellow at Grace Hopper College at Yale University. 

            Monte’s latest novel, Metropolis, is a grand dystopian tale in a time of war, with a blossoming romance throughout. I’ve read Metropolis and can tell you it’s a powerful and intense journey through a world into which I hope we never find ourselves. If you enjoy marvelously epic storytelling, I highly recommend you read Metropolis.

            Since 2010, Monte has been the owner of the Santa Barbara Writers Conference and has taught a class in voice and style both there and at UC Santa Barbara.

            He’s also a composer/songwriter with an album out worldwide: “Seraphonium – After Many a Summer.”

            Donna excels in the realm of storytelling and uses those skills to propel new companies into the mainstream. 

            She is also the host of BeforeItHappened, a leading narrative podcast featuring visionaries and the moments, events, and realizations that inspired those visionaries to change our lives for the better.

            He also played Will Taylor in Christopher Hatton’s excellent Edgar Allen Poe feature, Raven’s Hollow. Christopher Hatton has been a guest on this podcast, as has Callum’s exceptional co-star, Melanie Zanetti.

            Callum trained at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art. On stage, he has appeared at the Hampstead Theatre in Ryan Craig’s Filthy Business, which was directed by Edward Hall. The play also starred Sara Kestelman, Ashley Martin-Davis, Louis Hilyer, Dorian Lough and Callie Cooke. Filthy Business opened to rave reviews with Callum’s performance being critically highlighted as ‘sharply defined’ in The Guardian, ‘glinting promise’ in The Telegraph and ‘a fine performance’ in The Financial Times. 

            Career highlights include the stage version of George Orwell’s 1984, in which John played Winston Smith, at the Wilma Theatre, Kennedy Center and Joyce Theatre, and the world premiere of Eduardo Machado’s Fabiola at the Theatre for a New City.

            John spent time in L.A. pursuing TV and Film work, appearing in many episodic TV series including L.A. Law, Spenser: For Hire, Dallas, Quantum Leap and others. John’s feature film credits include Sneakers and Patriot Games. 

            After receiving an MFA in Acting from Cal State University, Long Beach, John became a faculty member at the University of Wisconsin, Stevens Point, the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, and finally at Point Park University, where he taught for over 20 years and was the Theatre Department Chair for 10 years. John’s book “Auditioning and Acting for the Camera” is used throughout the country. Backstage Magazine named it one of “11 Amazing Books for the On-Camera Actor.”

            John remains active in the Pittsburgh theater and film community, appearing in many plays for The REP, City Theatre, Quantum, PICT and the Pittsburgh Public Theatre. Highlights include playing Willy Loman in Death of a Salesman for the REP, (for which the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette named him Performer of the Year), and Ralph in A Christmas Story at the Pittsburgh Public Theatre. 

            John has also directed numerous productions, including August Osage County for Point Park’s professional theatre company, The REP, and Tamara for Quantum; both were named best productions in their respective years by the Post-Gazette.

            While in Pittsburgh, he’s appeared in TV shows like: A League of Their Own and The Chair, and in Films like The Race, Fathers and Daughters, Homemakers, and The Deliverance directed by Lee Daniels.

Her most recent feature films include Raven’s Hollow, which was written and directed by Christopher Hatton, who has been a guest on StoryBeat, Gabriel’s Rapture, Love and Monsters, and Head Count, which is set to be released in 2024. 

Aside from Bluey, Melanie’s other TV credits include Young Rock, The End, The Bureau Of Magical Things, and The Leisure Class, which was produced by Matt Damon and Ben Affleck.

Melanie began her career in theatre and has played many iconic roles such as Juliet in Romeo and Juliet, Eliza Doolittle in Pygmalion, Cathy in Wuthering Heights and numerous others since graduating from The University of Southern Queensland in 2007.

Robert also happens to be the son of the late TV icon, Bob Crane, who was best known for playing Colonel Robert Hogan in Hogan’s Heroes during its six-season run. 

            His new novel, You Can Go Home Now, is a timely and thoroughly entertaining psychological thriller featuring a female cop on the hunt for a killer while battling violent secrets of her own.  I’ve read You Can Go Home Now and can tell you it’s a deeply engaging mystery with a lot of heart. Michael is also the author of the novel, The Last Conquistador.

            Born and raised in upstate New York, Michael moved to New York City after graduating from St. John’s College in Annapolis to pursue a career in acting. He was a member of the Living Theatre and acted at The Judson Poets Theatre, La MaMa, and Caffé Chino. Michael then transitioned to Hollywood and with Frank Shaw wrote the screenplay for The Frisco Kid starring Gene Wilder and Harrison Ford. With Eve Babitz he wrote Envoyez les Violons.  And then he began a long writing partnership with Rich Eustis. Together, they wrote the screenplays for Serial, Young Doctors in Love and they created the popular sitcom, Head of the Class for ABC, which was partially based on Michael’s experience as a high school teacher in New York City. 

            Michael also worked with Steve Martin, a collaboration that included material for Steve’s comedy albums, network TV specials, and the screenplay for The Jerk.

            Michael wrote and directed Showtime’s Lush Life with Forrest Whitaker and Jeff Goldblum, leading to a nomination for Best Director at The Cable Ace Awards . His semi-autobiographical play, The Catskill Sonata, about a small hotel in upstate New York, was directed by the legendary filmmaker, Paul Mazursky.

            As a writer, director and producer, George has earned many accolades, including 15 Emmys, two Peabody Awards, the Humanitas Prize and 8 awards from the Writers Guild of America, including the Paul Selvin Award for writing that embodies civil rights and liberties. In 2012, George received an Honorary Academy Award for “extraordinary distinction in lifetime achievement.” 

            George served for eight years as Co-chairman of the President’s Committee on the Arts and Humanities following his appointment by President Obama in 2009.

            He’s the Founding Director of the American Film Institute. During his tenure, more than 10,000 irreplaceable American films were preserved and catalogued for future generations.  He also established the AFI’s Center for Advanced Film Studies, which gained a reputation as the finest learning opportunity for young filmmakers.

            With Nick Vanoff, George created the annually televised Kennedy Center Awards in 1978, which he wrote and produced for more than 35 years.

            George executive produced Terrence Malick’s film, The Thin Red Line, which was nominated for seven Academy Awards, including Best Picture.  He co-wrote and produced The Murder of Mary Phagan, starring Jack Lemmon, which received the Emmy for Outstanding Mini-Series. He wrote and directed Separate But Equal starring Sidney Poitier and Burt Lancaster which also won the Emmy for Outstanding Mini-Series.  He produced two acclaimed films about his highly revered, Oscar-winning father, George Stevens: A Filmmaker’s Journey and George Stevens: D-Day to Berlin.  In collaboration with his son and partner, Michael Stevens, he produced the feature length documentary Herblock – The Black & The White on the famed political cartoonist Herbert Block. 

            In 2008, George made his Broadway playwriting debut with Thurgood, starring Tony nominee Laurence Fishburne as Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall. 

           As an author, George has published: Conversations with the Great Moviemakers of Hollywood’s Golden Age, and Conversations with the Great Moviemakers – The Next Generation, featuring interviews with notable filmmakers from the AFI’s Harold Lloyd Master Seminar Series. In 2022 he published his autobiography, My Place in the Sun. I’ve read My Place in the Sun and can tell you it’s a truly entertaining memoir of his family’s show business legacy as well as his own top-tier life in Washington, Hollywood and beyond. I highly recommend this most excellent book to you.

          George Stevens, Jr. resides in Washington, D.C. For more information, please consult: www.georgestevensjr.com 

            Ken’s instantly recognizable, intricately detailed pen and ink celebrity portraits have been published internationally by such diverse and distinguished publications as The Wall Street Journal, In Style Magazine, The New Yorker, The Hollywood Reporter, L.A. Times, Washington Post, Politico, and Barron’s.

            Ken has produced stylish and eye-catching art for major ad campaigns, posters and specially commissioned corporate gifts for HBO, Showtime, Jazz at Lincoln Center, The Metropolitan Opera Company, American Express, CBS News, Walt Disney Productions, and Microsoft.

            A TV commercial that animated Ken’s drawings for CNBC’s “Squawk Box” was nominated for an EMMY Award. Several original Ken Fallin posters are in the permanent poster collection of London’s Victoria and Albert Museum. A number of his original pen and ink drawings now hang in the venerable Players Club.

            As a regular contributor to Playbill.com and BroadwayWorld.com Ken has chronicled the New York Theatre scene for over ten years.

            Private collectors of Ken’s work include: Barbra Streisand, Bernadette Peters, Darren Criss, Matthew Broderick, Bradley Cooper, Sarah Paulson, Frank Langella, Sir Patrick Stewart, Warren Buffett, and Sir Cameron Mackintosh.

https://www.kenfallinart.com/

            Sheldon was first drawn to the stage while at Teaneck High School, and later graduated from Carnegie Mellon University with a degree in Drama. 

            He began his career as an actor studying at the Brooklyn Academy of Music, Indiana Repertory Company, the Alley Theatre, the Pittsburgh CLO and The Production Company, which he co-founded and for which he directed various plays. 

            In 1980, Sheldon made his theater directing debut with the Off-Broadway musical Blues in the Night. It was revived in 1982, this time on Broadway. Since then he’s directed numerous other stage productions on Broadway and in regional theaters including: Scenes and Revelations, Play On!, Blue, and Purlie.

            As well, since 1994, Sheldon has directed many memorable, popular TV shows including: Evening Shade, Smart Guy, Sister, Sister, Frasier, Everybody Loves Raymond, Friends, Girlfriends, and George Lopez.

            In 1997, Sheldon became artistic director of the Pasadena Playhouse, serving in that capacity for two decades. In 2020 Sheldon was appointed Senior Artistic Advisor at Ford's Theatre in Washington, DC.

            Sheldon’s best-selling memoir, My Own Directions, was published in September 2022. I’ve read My Own Directions and can tell you it’s a fantastically entertaining and informative look at Sheldon’s exceptional career and all of the many hurdles he’s overcome and successes he’s achieved throughout an outstanding life in the arts. 

Andrew has published several books, including Death of the Daily News, released in September, 2022, Breakaway, and The Color of Sundays, which explores the role of race in the National Football League mainly through how Bill Nunn, Jr. and the Pittsburgh Steelers identified undervalued players at historically black colleges. Netflix has optioned the book for a potential movie, and the Independent Book Publishers Association recognized The Color of Sundays with a Silver Benjamin Franklin Award. I’ve read The Color of Sundays and can tell you it’s a thoroughly researched, fascinating deep dive into how African Americans have become indispensable, elite players in high-profile sports.

For the record, Steve and Andy have known one another for many years as colleagues at Point Park University. If Andy hadn’t put out a call in 2016 for professors who might like to use the Center for Media Innovation to launch a podcast, StoryBeat would not exist.

After graduating from UCLA’s film program, Bob took a succession of minor entertainment industry jobs, while also writing scripts. He then moved to New York to work for a producer, where he found the time to look for his own material. He found a true story and was able to option it. 

Upon later returning to L.A., Bob began pitching this one true story idea while creating others. He found what he was always looking for: simple high concepts that no one knew about. A second true story sold to Lorimar that Bob and his writing partner wrote for that studio.

Bob discovered that he was best at creating and/or finding great commercial material and then working to package those ideas with talent. Pitching is a major component of his success, which helped to launch his career as a producer.

Bob learned that there is great 'power' in ideas. In time, his reputation grew as a "pitcher" of good material and he was dubbed the "King of the Pitch." As a result, he has had first look deals with most of the studios and somehow ended up with an unusual career based on pitching ideas and stories. 

Projects that Bob set up, some of which he also helped to produce, include: 12 Monkeys, In The Mood, The Hardy Men, Wild Pitch, My One and Only, Commando, Kick, Keeper of the Flame, A Novel Life, Stepping Out, and Born to Shop among others.

Bob’s favorite response to people who say, “Good ideas are a dime a dozen," is to respond, “No, bad ideas are a dime a dozen. Good ideas are one in a million.”

Bob is also the author of the very useful book, “How to Sell Your Idea to Hollywood,” which is filled with valuable advice on how to develop ideas, pitch them, and sell them to Hollywood. 

In 1970, Jimmy’s friend, Carly Simon, called him to put a band together for her. She was rising fast on the US and British top 40 charts with “That’s The Way I’ve Always Heard It Should Be,” as well as her first album “Carly Simon,” on which Jimmy played guitar. Jimmy went on to perform with Carly on most of her future albums and continues to work off and on with her to this day. 

He's the guitar soloist on many of Carly’s hits, the most memorable being “You’re So Vain,” and the Academy Award winning song of the year, “Let the River Run,” from the movie, Working Girl. 

Aside from Carly Simon, Jimmy’s also recorded with numerous superstars including no less than: Paul McCartney, Mick Jagger, Luther Vandross, James Taylor, Cat Stevens, Jim Croce, John Entwistle, Elton John & Kiki Dee, The Doors, Rod Stewart, and many more, earning him six gold records and one platinum record. 

As a studio musician Jimmy has recorded alongside legendary session players, like: Jim Gordon, Claus Voorman, Jim Keltner, Nicky Hopkins, Will Lee, Steve Gadd, Lowell George, Robbie Robertson, Paul Shaffer, David Sanborn and many more. 

Along the way, he found time to perform in the original Broadway production of Hair. And he was a principal actor and musician in the Broadway production of “Pump Boys and Dinettes.”

Jimmy has scored music for TV, creating themes and music for NBC News, CNBC, MSNBC, Lifetime, USA, and PBS. He’s also composed, arranged, and produced music for over 500 radio and TV commercials for clients like: Doritos, McDonalds, IBM, Ford, Nikon, Pizza Hut, Budweiser, Chevy, Coke, Diet Coke, and more.

In April 2019, he and his touring band, The Hit Men, were honored with the first ever Road Warrior Award from the Nashville Musician’s Hall of Fame. 

In 2022, Jimmy published his memoir, Behind: Autobiography of a Musical Shapeshifter. It’s a fascinating look at the life of a musician working at the highest levels of the music industry, especially the life of a working rock musician.

And please be sure to stick around at the end of the show for a real treat. Jimmy has generously loaned us an unreleased song that he wrote and produced, Slow Burn.

Peter is an Emeritus Professor at the University of Sunderland, in the United Kingdom. Though paralyzed from the neck down, Peter continues teaching students online, while researching and writing about a number of subjects. He recently published articles and books on topics related to disability, postgraduate education, and rock music. He supports a number of students who are completing their Masters dissertations and PhD theses.  Peter is perhaps best known for his great contributions to Artificial Intelligence. 

Peter’s daughter, Laura, also publishes, sometimes with Peter, on topics relating to disability, rock music and the UK radio show “The Archers,” of which she’s a passionate follower and listener. Laura, who lost her sight at a young age, is a mother of two children and lives in the Northeast of the UK. She’s a qualified social worker, teacher, and a classically trained singing teacher.

Peter and Laura recently published My Travels Through the Maelstrom of Punk Rock. As a young man, Peter’s rebellious nature pulled him away from his academic studies into the world of punk rock. During the late 1970s he threw himself into a life of attending turbulent, manic, and perilous concerts full of young, disillusioned punks and skinheads, many of whom saw Peter as an outsider. He witnessed first-hand early performances by numerous groups like The Sex Pistols, The Clash, The Cure, and dozens more. Amidst a sea of punks, Peter’s long hair stood out, attracting trouble and tempting danger. Life was daring, wired, and scary yet fun. 

My Travels Through the Maelstrom of Punk Rock is a fantastic exploration of both Peter’s youth as a music superfan, and also an eye-opening probe into the history of how Punk Rock developed in England in the 1970’s, 80’s and beyond, including dozens of accounts of Peter attending concerts of now infamous bands before they became widely known. 

Leigh is a leadership and collaboration consultant with organizations including Harvard, Google, and IKEA, and she’s led a multi-year program teaching experimental mindsets to multigenerational teams at NASA. Leigh is also a longtime student of pioneering researchers and practitioners of the ritualized use of psychedelic medicines in the West.

David began working in film in 1969 when a friend offered him a job as the second assistant director on a movie he was working on. Two weeks later, when that person quit, David inherited the first assistant director position and was tutored by the film’s very patient Director who had, himself, been an assistant director.

Subsequently, David worked beside a succession of experienced mentors who put him in the right place at the right time and allowed him opportunities he would not have been able to find for himself. 

During David’s years as a First A.D. he never stopped learning the job, which is essentially carrying out the director’s wishes for the day’s shooting while guiding and facilitating the film’s crew. Being a First A.D. is a high visibility occupation, known for being stressful, but it’s also one of the most satisfying and interesting jobs on a set. 

In 2022, David published his memoir, Best Seat in the House, revealing numerous experiences working on some of the highest-profile Hollywood movies ever produced. Best Seat in the House is a beautifully written retelling of David’s many amazing exploits working alongside such legendary directors as: Milos Forman, Sydney Pollack, Robert Zemeckis, Barry Levinson, Cameron Crowe, Terry Gilliam, Tim Burton, and many more, as well as working with movie superstars like: Paul Newman, Tom Cruise, Dustin Hoffman, Nicole Kidman, Robert Redford, Michael Keaton, Jessica Lange, John Travolta, Harrison Ford, Sally Field, Michael J. Fox, Robin Williams, and Jeff Bridges, just to name a few.

Jay’s recent memoir, Honky in the House: Writing & Producing The Jeffersons, sneaks the reader behind the scenes of this classic series for a close-up look at how sitcom sausage is made.

Jay and his writing partner, Mike Milligan, sold their first freelance script to Norman Lear’s Good Times and were hired on staff at The Jeffersons where they began movin’ on up from Writers to Producers to Showrunners.

Most recently, Jay published Deadeye, a cowboy comedy novel with heart offering a tip of the Stetson to Don Quixote. 

Jay is also the author/creator of the classic Sherlock Holmes board game 221 B Baker Street, which has sold over 3 million copies in nine different countries.

Jay served for 11 years as an Adjunct Professor in the Writing Division of the University of Southern California School of Cinematic Arts.

With 10 years of development experience, Ruslan has been able to develop Filmustage technology to automate the script breakdown process, normally a painstaking task that is necessary in the production of motion pictures. 

A lifelong musician, Ruslan is also well-versed in sound design. 

 Filmustage.com

 Filmustage is offering a discount to StoryBeat listeners.  On the Filmustage site, enter StoryBeat30 for a 30% discount.

Mike was a fellow Merseybeat musician, who went on to work in marketing, theatre and promotions.  He saw the huge potential of Beatles tourism through what Bernadette was doing as a guide and became the manager of Beatle City – an ill-fated exhibition of memorabilia which he took on tour to Dallas, Texas in 1987.

Mike was determined that Liverpool would have its own permanent Beatles exhibition, but found the Liverpool tourism board apathetic.  Mike and Bernadette realized they would have to do it themselves, eventually raising funding.  Creating the exhibition presented a multitude of challenges and hurdles, not least of which was securing permission from The Beatles!

Their vision was to create an immersive experience that conveyed the feelings and emotions of key periods in the Beatles’ career. They wanted people to see it, hear it and feel it!  The result was 18 different features including a replica Cavern Club, a street in Hamburg, and an interactive Yellow Submarine with an Octopus’ Garden.

The exhibition has had over 5 million visitors to date and is the most successful Beatles Exhibition in the world.  

Mike and Bernadette have written a book about their lives and the creation of the exhibition called The Birth of The Beatles Story, which is a fascinating, deep dive into the early years of the Beatles and how the exhibition in Liverpool came into being.

Kate’s feature film credits include: Hysteria, Erased, Miss Meadows, Garry Marshall's Mother's Day, Charlie Matthau's The Book of Leah, and various others.

Kate enjoys the best of two worlds -- on the air and in the air – because she never quit her pre-Young and the Restless weekend job as a United Airlines flight attendant, which she says keeps her grounded.

Born in Pasadena, California, Kate entered dance classes at 3. By the time she finished high school, she’d appeared in major singing and dancing roles in Promises, Promises, Threepenny Opera, L’il Abner, Jesus Christ Superstar, and many more.

Following graduation from San Francisco State University with a degree in Theater Arts, Kate worked part-time at the University, which is where she met her husband, Professor Dr. Ronald Linder, who subsequently joined the Public Health and Medicine faculty at UCLA. After settling in Los Angeles, Kate broke into TV with sitcom and drama guest-starring roles, including starring in Cotillion ’65 as a dance teacher with a dual life that won multiple film festival awards.

Kate became the celebrity spokesperson for the ALS Association following her brother-in-law’s diagnosis. She spends most holidays serving food at the L.A. Mission. And she was on many USO tours with the late Johnny Grant, spending Thanksgivings visiting troops in Afghanistan, Pakistan, Korea, Guantanamo Bay and Fort Hood.

Kate and Robin Wyss debuted Kate’s charity OpportuniTea in 1998 in Vancouver, featuring her Young and Restless castmates. Kate’s teas also benefit the March of Dimes Canada's Conductive Education® program in Toronto and Calgary.

Kate was elected to two terms as the Television Academy’s Governor of Daytime Programming Peer Group and was elected to multiple terms as a SAG-AFTRA board member.

In April 2008, Kate received her star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. 

He recently completed writing, directing, and producing Raven’s Hollow, an ambitious period thriller based on events in the life of a young Edgar Allan Poe.   I’ve seen Raven’s Hollow and can tell you it’s a terrifically entertaining, beautifully rendered, quite eerie mystery-horror-thriller. 

Some of Christopher’s other credits include Battle of the Damned with Dolph Lundgen, the robots-gone-berserk thriller Robotropolis, Cyber Wars with genre legend David Warner, Phantom Racer, and the first draft screenplay for what would become Shanghai Noon, among many others. 

Christopher earned an MFA in Playwriting from the University of Iowa where he took time out from writing plays to submit an unsolicited spec script to Star Trek: The Next Generation, which wound up being produced as a two-part episode.  This was immediately followed by the sale of a pitch to Star Trek, which brought him to Los Angeles where he secured an agent and never wrote a stage play again.   

Hilary was an advertising photo stylist with various skills in production, wardrobe, set design, and makeup for many years in Los Angeles. She worked for, and with, numerous celebrities and well-known photographers and directors until 2008, when she saw an opportunity to leave L.A. and move to Joshua Tree, California. 

Hilary’s love for photography and writing inspired her to study journalism. She subsequently earned a certificate from Michigan State University. 

In 2017 and 2018, she traveled with Raleigh International, a British non-profit, as their photographer. In 2020, she joined a group of world-renowned photographers working with consultant, Christina Force, in which they share information and support. 

Hilary spends her free time photographing local wildlife around her home and dreaming up new projects that will take her into her community and beyond.

David is a twenty-year veteran of the entertainment industry and a Tony nominated producer. He got his start many years ago at the renowned theatrical office of The Dodgers. Eventually, he became a Dreamworks Theatricals executive, where he oversaw sales operations for Shrek The Musical.

He’s currently a managing partner in the new interactive experience, The Twenty-Sided Tavern, which brings a Dungeons & Dragons style Role Playing Game into the live entertainment space using Gamiotics technology to power audience engagement. 

In 2019, David was the lead producer of the Broadway run of Slava’s Snowshow. He helmed the off-Broadway record breaking comedy Puffs, which ran for three years in New York and is in the top ten most licensed shows in the US.

He produced Puffs in Australia for two years with a record-breaking engagement in Melbourne before touring to Sydney and Brisbane. He was also the Executive Producer of Puffs: Filmed Live Off-Broadway which debuted on screen nationwide with Fathom Events and can now be viewed on any streaming platform.

He’s also lectured on producing at various Universities, like Columbia, Bucknell, The University of New Mexico and the University of Florida at Gainesville. 

Her new collaboration with Jazz at Lincoln Center--the Songbook Sundays Series at Dizzy’s Club--has been an instant sold out music destination. 

Deborah’s previous collaborations include Feinstein’s/54 Below, Birdland, and a decade as Artistic Director of the 92Y’s Lyrics & Lyricists™ concert series, steering the venerable series back to audience and critical acclaim.  She collaborates with top-tier artists from Broadway and the music world and works with leading institutions.  

Among Deborah’s various books, On the Sunny Side of the Street: The Life and Lyrics of Dorothy Fields, was named by the Wall Street Journal one of the five best books on American Songwriters. Her articles have appeared in The New York Times and numerous other publications.  And her plays have been produced off-Broadway and regionally.  

Deborah’s been featured on PBS’ American Masters, as well as NPR’s Fresh Air and “Morning Edition.”  

Deborah’s newest project, the audio adventure podcast series Flash Force: Middle Aged Women Superheroes Save Democracy, with an all-star Broadway cast, launches in 2023.

He’s been a leading actor in over 250 professional plays—eight on Broadway, including recently Waitress and To Kill a Mockingbird. 

Dakin is a member of both the Motion Picture and the Television Academies and has appeared in over 30 feature films, including: True Grit, Bridge of Spies, and Lincoln; and over three hundred television episodes, including shows such as: The Gilded Age, The King of Queens, Desperate Housewives, The Office, and Gilmore Girls. 

He’s been the Artistic Director of four professional theatre companies. His multiple award-winning scripts – adaptations, translations, and originals – have been performed across the country. Dakin won a Drama Desk Award for his Broadway adaptation of Shakespeare’s Henry IV. His eleven rhyming verse translations of Golden Age comedies are currently being published by LinguaText. 

He's taught and directed across the U.S., and has dramaturged Shakespeare for the country’s leading directors. Dakin’s also given workshops in Shakespearean verse-speaking across the country and around the world, based on his handbook Shakespeare Spoken Here.

Dakin was a Founding Member of John Houseman’s The Acting Company and of Sam Mendes’ Bridge Project and The Antaeus Theatre Company. 

Over the years, Margy has also been the liaison for Fred Rogers Productions to PBS’s Ready To Learn Initiative. She co-created, wrote and produced video-based early childhood professional development workshop materials. And she was the project director for two series of picture books, “First Experiences” and “Let’s Talk About It.” 

She has held production and administrative positions at WQED-TV for both local and national programs, including the “Once Upon a Classic” series and National Geographic Specials. 

Margy has served on the board of the Women’s Center and Shelter of Greater Pittsburgh, ultimately as board President. She’s been a volunteer reader for Read Together and a steering committee member for Empty Bowls, which is an annual fundraising event for the Greater Pittsburgh Food Bank to raise hunger awareness.

She is currently a reader and Board President for Reading Ready Pittsburgh, a nonprofit encouraging family engagement and early literacy through reading for children up to the age of 5. 

Through those years he also produced many daily newspaper comic strips and interviews with such names as Klaus Voormann, Derek Taylor, Sir Tim Rice, Jeffrey Archer, Willy Russell, Eddie Izzard, Sierra Boggess, and Chyler Leigh.

Tim has worked as a writer for the Guardian newspaper, as well as editor for America’s oldest publication, The Saturday Evening Post, and as producer for LWT’s The South Bank Show TV documentary series – that included among others, a show on the history of Marvel Comics! 

For many years Tim ran a publishing company with his wife Jane and Gillian Baverstock, the elder daughter of noted children’s author, Enid Blyton.

Additionally, Tim and Jane ran Mighty Quinn Management, as agents and managers to many musicians while putting on huge charity shows featuring members of Led Zeppelin and the Rolling Stones. 

These days, Tim’s the Editor-in-Chief for the Merseyside charity, Liverpool Heartbeat, creating literacy-based comic books for schools across the region. 

He’s also produced books for New Haven Publishing, who just released The Jolly Bloodbath, a piratical novel for children written by The Brothers Quinn, Tim and his younger brother, Jason, who’s a well-known comic book writer. Also, look for Tim’s autobiography, Argh, also from New Haven Publishing.

At 19, Decca records signed David to a multi-album solo contract. He subsequently toured extensively with artists like: The Carpenters, Steely Dan, Air Supply, Randy Newman, Rod Stewart, The Doors and many more. 

David’s solo albums include: "It’s in Every One of Us,” "The Truth of Us,” “Time to Fly”, “New Blues,” “On This Day,” and “The Eyes of Christmas.”

He’s performed sold out concerts at The Kennedy Center, Hollywood Bowl, London Hippodrome, Universal Amphitheater, and hundreds more. 

David has written music and lyrics for major Motion Pictures like: "Big” and “King Kong." On TV, his songs have been featured on "Will and Grace,” “The Summer Olympic Games,” "Boston Legal,” “American Idol,” and Showtime’s “Elvis Presley’s Graceland,” for which he composed the score. 

He’s also contributed songs to the hit London Musical, “Time,” starring Cliff Richard and Sir Laurence Olivier. For the Charlie Chaplin-based musical, “Little Tramp,’ David wrote music, lyrics, and co-wrote the book with Steven Horwich. He also composed music for the Dickens classic, “A Tale of Two Cities” with lyrics by Steven Horwich and book by Steven Horwich and David Soames. And he composed the Tony-nominated musical, “Scandalous,” with Kathie Lee Gifford and composer, David Friedman.

Beyond all that, David also hosts “SongSessions with David Pomeranz,” a popular podcast in which David talks shop with some of the most iconic songwriters of our time. Guests have included: Richard Marx, Melissa Manchester, Barry Mann, Paul Williams, Barry Manilow, Alan Bergman and more. SongSessions can be found at davidpomeranz.com and on major apps and platforms. 

Since that time she has contributed voices to NPR Playhouse productions, including working with all-star casts on We Hold These Truths and Empire of the Air for Other World Media, as well as performing with the legendary Firesign Theatre on The Great Internet Broadcast for the Toyota Comedy Festival in New York. And she’s traveled several times to Dublin to participate in Crazy Dog Audio productions for RTE, Ireland’s public radio service. 

Melinda is most proud that she was Norman Corwin’s very favorite Lucretia Borgia in his The Plot to Overthrow Christmas. She’s also led the casts of Agatha Christie’s BBC Murders playing Agatha Christie herself. 

Their first show, entitled Let’s Fall In Love, featured a potpourri of classic American love songs from the 30’s, 40’s and beyond, taking a fun and sentimental look at the many moods of love from first blush to a lifetime love affair. 

Their second show, Moonlight and Love Songs, took them on a romantic journey through many of the memorable songs from the silver screen, past and present. In addition to numerous appearances at The Gardenia, they’ve also performed at: the Ten20 Club, and The Vermont in Los Angeles; the Central California Cabaret Series with Broadway star Luba Mason; Billy Reed’s, Azul's, the Annenberg Theater in Palm Springs; and the Laurie Beechman Theater in New York.

Maripat began her performing career at the age of six. She’s also an actress and dancer with credits in theater, film, TV, concerts, nightclubs, cabarets, radio and records.

Richard, too, is an actor with an extensive background in musicals, as well as classical and contemporary theater.

Maripat and Richard’s shows highlight their strong vocals, gorgeous harmonies, special arrangements, and an on-stage chemistry punctuated by moments of great humor. Their shows run the emotional gamut from lighthearted to poignant. The common thread uniting all of it is a celebration of life, love, and romance.

Please be sure to check out their beautiful album, “Here’s to Love.”

As an actor, John has appeared in dozens of TV shows including The Streets of San Francisco, Fantasy Island and The Love Boat. And he starred opposite Sally Field in the TV series The Girl With Something Extra. You’ll also know him from the Disney films: The Happiest Millionaire and The One And Only Genuine Original Family Band! He can also be seen in Airport 80, Edward Scissorhands, and The Squeeze. 

But it was John’s performances in the major showrooms of Las Vegas that established him as one of America’s foremost entertainers. If you have the opportunity, you must see him live! 

Over 50 years ago, John made his Broadway debut in Foxy, starring the legendary Burt Lahr. Later, John would star in State Fair, and win a Theater Guild Award for playing Curly in the Broadway revival of Oklahoma! As well, John played The Wizard in the Broadway musical Wicked.  He’s also toured the US in multiple Broadway musicals. 

And he’s released 13 albums on the Columbia Records label.

John and his wife, Rhonda, created the geography card game, BORDERLINE USA. He’s also written a book and a play. And most recently, he’s been entertaining America as a troubadour/singer/songwriter/storyteller with his original songs, his jokes, his guitar, and his backup singers, The Inflatables!

For more, please visit johndavidson.com.

Entering the world of professional entertainment at the age of five, Bill has worked on over 400 television shows and is best known by fans around the world for the creation of many memorable roles, including: the iconic heroic boy astronaut, Will Robinson, on the long-running classic TV series Lost in Space; Anthony Fremont from The Twilight Zone; and Lennier from the popular science fiction series Babylon 5, in which he co-starred for five years. 

As a prolific songwriter and recording artist, Bill has produced numerous solo CDs, as well as being half of the infamous novelty rock recording and short filmmaking duo, Barnes and Barnes, best known for the classic demented song and film Fish Heads. He’s also worked with the pop group America off and on for over 30 years, composing, producing, and performing with the band. 

Bill has also served as a consulting producer on the long-running hit TV series Ancient Aliens. 

He’s written scores of comic books and television shows. And he’s collaborated with his Lost in Space co-star, Angela Cartwright, on three books. Bill’s autobiography, Danger Will Robinson: The Full Mumy, was recently published by Next Chapter Entertainment. It’s filled with fantastic stories and photos from Bill’s remarkable career in show business. 

Check out:
ncpbooks.com
BillMumy.com

But it was during a vacation in Los Angeles that Stephen secured an in person interview with legendary director, Alfred Hitchcock. To Stephen, the interview seemed like a natural progression of the telephone calls he’d had with Mr. Hitchcock while growing up. The interview, which turned out to be Hitchcock’s last before his 1980 death, was published originally in Boston’s The Real Paper, and subsequently syndicated worldwide. That led Stephen to writing for magazines like: American Film, Cinefantastique, Cosmopolitan, GQ, Movieline (where he was Editor at Large), Playboy (where he was Contributing Editor), The Saturday Review, and others.

Stephen’s book, Reel Art: Great Posters From the Golden Age of the Silver Screen has been honored as one of the best ever written about Hollywood. His second book, Alfred Hitchcock and the Making of Psycho, has been translated into eight languages, and was adapted for the big screen as Hitchcock, starring Anthony Hopkins, Helen Mirren and Scarlett Johansson, for which Stephen did several screenplay rewrites.

He’s written three "making of" books for Disney Animation, worked on story and screenplay development for various Disney animated projects, and developed for ABC-Disney a live-action musical version of the animated classic Sleeping Beauty.

Stephen’s critically acclaimed 2020 bestseller, Dolls! Dolls! Dolls! Deep Inside Valley of the Dolls, has been optioned for development for the screen. 

Michael’s life story is detailed in his memoir, On That Note, released in 2022. I’ve read On That Note and can tell you Michael writes powerfully and movingly about his time in the jazz world, and his many challenging experiences he’s had while winding his way toward success in both music and life.

Michael made his recording debut with Cal Tjader in the mid 1970’s and has since gone on to play and record with some of the greatest jazz musicians in the world, including legends like: Flora Purim and her husband Airto Moreira; Cannonball Adderly; Sonny Rollins, and The Thad Jones/Mel Lewis Orchestra, among many others.

He's performed with, and conducted over, 25 symphony orchestras, including those in: Dallas, Fort Worth, Berlin, Atlanta, Memphis and Pittsburgh.

Michael’s performed at Carnegie Hall, The Royal Albert Hall, Birdland, Bach Dancing and Dynamite Society, Snug Harbor and Mezzrow, among hundreds of others in the U.S. and around the world.

He’s released 21 recordings to critical and popular acclaim. Aside from performing with drummer Mike Clark in Wolff & Clark Expedition, he’s also part of a trio featuring Ben Allison on bass and Alan Mednard on drums. Michael also records and performs in conjunction with jazz radio station WBGO at the Yamaha Piano Salon in New York City.

Michael’s a recipient of the BMI Music Award, the winner of the Gold Disc Award in Japan, and the recipient of the Hamptons International Film Festival’s award for best film score for the film, The Tic Code, starring his wife, Polly Draper, Carol Kane, Tony Shalhoub, Gregory Hines and Camryn Manheim. Michael has also composed the scores to other film and TV projects, including The Naked Brothers Band. He also wrote the score for Polly Draper’s 2018 film, Stella’s Last Weekend.

They successfully toured for 7 years before changing their name to Cradle. The group was then seen by the successful music producer, Mickie Most. He offered Suzi a solo contract, which eventually led her to working with the hit-making songwriters Nicky Chinn and Mike Chapman, resulting in her first huge hit, Can the Can, which went to number one in Great Britain, Europe, Japan and Australia, and sold 2.5 million copies worldwide.

Suzi has sold over 55 million records. Among her numerous worldwide hits are: 48 Crash, Devil Gate Drive, The Wild One, She’s In Love With You, If You Can’t Give Me Love, and Stumblin In, a duet with Chris Norman.

From 1977-79 Suzi played Leather Tuscadero opposite Henry Winkler and Ron Howard in the hit TV Series, Happy Days.  Other TV appearances include: Minder, Dempsey and Makepeace, Absolutely Fabulous, and Midsomer Murders.

Among Suzi’s many other creative endeavors: she made her critically acclaimed West End debut in 1986 playing Annie Oakley in Annie Get Your Gun. She wrote music and lyrics with Shirlie Roden for the Tallulah Bankhead musical, Talullah Who?, in which Suzi starred.  She’s even had her own radio shows on BBC Radio 2 since 1999. 

Her bestselling autobiography, Unzipped, released in 2007, was turned into Suzi’s one woman show which premiered at London’s Hippodrome.

In 2016, Suzi released a book of poetry called Through My Eyes. In 2022, she released a second volume of poetry entitled, Through My Heart, Steve highly recommends. Through My Heart is powerfully personal, moving, intense, and quite deep. Suzi writes with passion and conviction, very much from her heart.

Her first novel, The Hurricane, was released in 2017, and she’s already at work on the sequel.

            Suzi continues to tour and release new albums, including 2019’s No Control, a collaboration with her son, Richard Tuckey, who co-wrote most of the tracks and played guitar. On her latest album, Uncovered, released on Sun Records, Suzi covers 6 classic soul, rock, and pop songs. The excellent documentary, Suzi Q, was released in 2019. Because of the attention it’s received, she’s now signed to do a movie of her life. 

Suzi remains a major creative force to be reckoned with. Her famous quote says it all, “I will retire when I go on stage, shake my ass, and there is silence.”

In 2016, Suzi received an Honorary Doctor of Music Degree from Cambridge University, making her officially Dr. Quatro.

Aside from True North, Holly and Kelvin contributed music and lyrics for That’s What Friends Do for Girlhood, The Musical, and for the grade school musical, Camp McAuliffe.

Holly is an award-winning designer and the Owner and Creative Director of Reed Creative Group. She’s also the CEO of the popular MusicalWriters.com. She’s a member of ASCAP and the Dramatists Guild.

Kelvin has served as a Music Pastor for over 25 years. He’s a choral director, pianist, composer and arranger and has produced several choral recording projects. His choirs have performed all over the United States, including in New Orleans with Lenny Kravitz. He’s also been music director and keyboardist for numerous high school and community theatre productions. 

Holly also happens to have designed the StoryBeat website, which she also manages.

Amanda wrote, produced, and directed the feature films, You Are My Home with Alyssa Milano, which can currently be found on Netflix, and My Favorite Girlfriend, that Saban Films released in the summer of 2022 for a limited theatrical run. 

Amanda also wrote, directed, and produced the award-winning short film noir thriller From Emily, that was on the reduced list for Oscar consideration in 2020. 

Amanda’s first novel, Son of Sherlock, was published in 2017. She’s currently at work on the sequel to it.

Charlie then studied theater at the University of Connecticut and subsequently received a Schubert Fellowship to do graduate work in playwriting at Carnegie Mellon University here in Pittsburgh.  While at CMU, his plays were acted by fellow students including Holly Hunter and Cherry Jones.  

After graduating, he returned to New York to work as a playwright. His plays have been produced at La Mama Experimental Theatre Club, Primary Stages, Playwrights Horizons, The Actors Theater of Louisville and The Edinburgh Festival.  

In 1978, Charlie was brought to Los Angeles by Columbia Pictures as part of a program looking for new writers, a program that turned out to be little more than a publicity stunt to distract from the bad PR Columbia had received as a result of its head, David Begelman, embezzling money from various actors.  

Charlie’s first produced movie, Paternity, is based on a play he’d written while at CMU. It starred Burt Reynolds and was directed by David Steinberg.  He’s had a dozen other movies pr oduced including Blame It On Rio directed by Stanley Donen, Kiss Me Goodbye directed by Robert Mulligan, and Her Alibi, directed by Bruce Beresford. He’s also directed two of his own: Passed Away with Bob Hoskins, Maureen Stapleton and Frances McDormand and Music From Another Room with Jude Law and Brenda Blethyn. 

Charlie has doctored over forty other produced movies and many more unproduced ones.  Renee Zellweger won The Golden Bear Award at The Berlin Film Festival for the 2010 movie, My One and Only, that Charlie wrote. 

Hs most recent film was 5 Flights Up based on the novel by Jill Ciment, which starred no less than Morgan Freeman and Diane Keaton.  

In 2010, Justin’s reporting led to an overhaul in how Baltimore police officers investigate sexual assaults. He was part of the Pulitzer Prize finalist staff recognized for their coverage of the Baltimore riots that followed the death of Freddie Gray. 

He was also one of the lead reporters who reported on Baltimore’s Gun Trace Task Force Scandal. Justin subsequently wrote a book depicting the entire case called We Own This City, which was later produced by HBO into a mini-series of the same name. Justin himself appears in two episodes of We Own This City, playing a press conference reporter. 

Along with several state awards, Justin is also a two-time finalist for the national Livingston Award for Young Journalists. The Maryland Daily Record, the local legal and business newspaper, named Justin as an "Influential Marylander".

She’s well-known for voicing Dexter in Dexter’s Laboratory, The Flea in Mucha Lucha, Coco and Cheese in Foster’s Home for Imaginary Friends, and literally thousands of other well-known characters. She may well be the voice of your childhood. She also happens to be an Annie Award nominee.

 Not only has Candi performed voiceover work in countless film and TV projects, you may have seen in her any number of on-camera commercials. 

On stage, she starred with Jennifer Holliday in the first touring production of Dreamgirls, directed by none other than the renowned, Michael Bennett. 

            Candi has published a dark comedy memoir, Surviving the Odd, which offers a glimpse into her wildly inappropriate childhood as seen through the eyes of a 7-year-old who unravels the story of how her once prominent-but-now-fading comedian/singer father, Tony, left show business in 1968 to open one of the first board and care homes in California – Milo Arms – to care for and shelter developmentally disabled and emotionally disturbed adults. I’ve read Surviving the Odd, and I can tell you it’s a beautifully written, intense and harrowing tale, but told with incredible heart and a lot of funny stuff, too. We’ll be hearing more about Surviving the Odd shortly. 

Candi has performed as a singer, stand-up comic, and starred in her one-person nightclub show across the country. She also gives inspirational talks about her unusual childhood and how it informed her life as an actor, mother, and passionate advocate for people dealing with mental illness and homelessness. Much like her father, Candi also gives voice to the homeless because too many people pretend not to see them on the street.

For the record, Candi has lent her extraordinary voice talent to a few scripts that Steve has written – including playing Zadavia in the Warner Bros. cartoon, Loonatics Unleashed.

She is an Associate Artist of the Old Globe Theatre in San Diego, where she has appeared in more than 30 productions.

She’s also worked extensively at South Coast Repertory Theatre in Costa Mesa, California.

Kandis has 3 San Diego Theatre Critics Circle awards, and is a 4-time winner of the best performance award from the Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle. 

Denise can be seen in the feature films I Saw the Light, starring Tom Hiddleston, Get the Gringo, starring Mel Gibson, and the Morris Chestnut feature, When the Bough Breaks. Most recently, Denise worked on the romance feature, Gabriel’s Rapture, the thriller, 9 Windows, and a Hallmark movie, Baked with a Kiss.

In addition to her acting career, in 2001, Denise founded the extremely popular Shriekfest Film Festival in Los Angeles.  Shriekfest is now in its 22nd year. For the record, a movie that Steve directed and co-produced, Lucky, won the awards for Best Feature and Fan Favorite at the 2003 edition of Shriekfest. 

She also worked alongside Blake Snyder on his book, "Save the Cat Goes to the Movies." And most recently, Naomi has published two books of her own, "The Screenplay Outline Workbook: A Step-by-Step Guide to Brainstorm Ideas, Structure Your Story, and Prepare to Write Your Best Screenplay," and "Logline Shortcuts: Unlock Your Story and Pitch Your Screenplay in One Simple Sentence."

Joel’s work has appeared in a variety of print and broadcast outlets, ranging from HBO, CBS and Tennis Channel to Racquet Magazine, Cigar Aficionado, and the New York Times.  

He’s the author of two books – Jimmy Connors Saved My Life and Don’t Bet on It.  He’s also worked as story editor-researcher on four documentaries.  

Tennis is the topic Joel writes about most, in large part a lens through which he sees the world.  Joel is one of the world’s most prominent tennis writers, having authored stories on dozens of notable players and events.  He’s also the historian-at-large for the International Tennis Hall of Fame and one of the co-hosts on a podcast titled “Three – A Show About Federer, Nadal and Djokovic.”  

Joel graduated with high honors from UC Berkeley, earning a degree in history – a discipline that greatly informs his work as a writer.    

So, for all those reasons and many more, it’s my distinct privilege to welcome the author and journalist, Joel Drucker, to StoryBeat today.  Joel, welcome to the show. 

Before working for EditMentor, Cara taught editing in Point Park University’s Cinema Arts department, where she held the roles of Assistant Professor, head of the editing concentration, and ultimately Department Chair.  For the record, Cara and I are longtime friends having worked together for many years in the Cinema Department.

Cara’s production credits include working with VEX Robotics, WPXI-TV, Discovery Channel, National Geographic, and CBS’s As the World Turns.

She’s served on the boards of The Steeltown Entertainment Project, Women in Film and Media Pittsburgh, and was a section manager for SMPTE Pittsburgh. She’s also an Adobe Premiere Pro Certified Expert and an Avid Media Composer Certified User. 

Along with his sister, the late Olympia Dukakis, he co-founded the Tony nominated Whole Theatre Company of Montclair, New Jersey, where he was Associate Artistic Director, actor, director, and teacher for fifteen years. 

In Los Angeles, Apollo was a company member of the acclaimed Antaeus Theatre Company. He’s the recipient of the Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle Award, the Dramalogue Critics Award, and the Ovation Award. 

His film work includes: American Heart with Jeff Bridges and The Last Action Hero with Arnold Schwarzenegger. TV appearances include: Seinfeld, ER, Beauty and the Beast, Doogie Howser, L.A. Law,  and many others. 

Apollo recently won the Best Actor In a Short Film Award from the London Greek Film Festival for the film Mr. Segur.

Dobie’s a published author of a true crime story about his life called "Monkey in the Middle.'' And he currently co-hosts a critically acclaimed podcast about all things diabetes called "Just My Type." 

Originally from Milwaukee, Dobie currently makes his home in Bristol, Wisconsin, where he continues to tweak and improve his craft for a post pandemic new normal.

Scott frequently presents at TCM events and other film festivals.

Recently, Scott authored one of the most enjoyable books about the movies that I’ve ever had the pleasure to read. It’s called, Danger on the Silver Screen: 50 Films Celebrating Cinema’s Greatest Stunts. If you like behind-the-scenes stories of how movies are made, and especially about spectacular stunts and the extraordinary people who pull them off, then I cannot recommend Danger on the Silver Screen enough.

John has taught and trained writers in 37 countries on five continents, and created TV shows of his own in Nicaragua, Romania and elsewhere. 

His latest book, “the little book of STANDUP,” explores his late-blooming interest in standup comedy. 

John’s a graduate of Carnegie Mellon University and a member of the Writers Guild of America.

Over the last 30 years, Bobby has become a nationally recognized leader in large-stakes and often precedent-setting cases, particularly in the entertainment and media fields. He’s represented every major motion picture studio and broadcast network, as well as film production companies, pay TV services, video game developers, record companies, recording artists, producers, writers, directors, and actors. 

Bobby has had extensive experience and success in copyright, trademark, unfair competition, royalties and participations, First Amendment, defamation, employment, and complex business disputes. He has handled more than 100 class action cases around the country. 

He’s also handled substantial disputes for companies well outside the media industry.

He is the executive producer and host of the long-running Arthur Lyons Film Noir Festival. Alan is also the co-programmer and co-host of the Noir City Hollywood and Chicago film festivals. He’s a charter director and treasurer of the Film Noir Foundation, which is dedicated to resurrecting lost films from the classic noir era.  He’s also a frequent presenter at the TCM Classic Film Festival and other events.

Alan’s book, Michael Curtiz: A Life in Film, was published in 2017 to rave reviews.  In April 2018, Alan co-hosted an in-depth Michael Curtiz spotlight series on Turner Classic Movies with TCM host Ben Mankiewicz. He also authored Charles McGraw: Film Noir Tough Guy. And he’s published essays and profiles for a variety of publications including his blog, One Way Street. 

Alan writes and narrates track commentaries while producing and appearing in documentaries on numerous Blu ray releases of classic films, including the Michael Curtiz documentary featurette on The Mystery of the Wax Museum and Doctor X. He has co-produced such Film Noir Foundation film restorations to Blu-ray as Too Late for Tears, Trapped, Los Tallos Amargos, and Repeat Performance, which includes a documentary feature on the history of Eagle Lion Films that he wrote and narrated.  Scheduled for 2022 is Flicker Alley’s release of The Guilty and High Tide.

Alan’s latest book about the classic noir western Blood on the Moon will be published in 2022. And he’s currently writing a biography of actress Lizabeth Scott. 

Be sure to check out Alan’s numerous discussions with Hollywood artists and scholars on his website, alankrode.com. 

You’re likely already a fan of the actor and bestselling author, Cary Elwes, who you surely know from his many starring roles in memorable, popular films, including: The Princess Bride, Lady Jane, Bram Stoker’s Dracula, Robin Hood: Men in Tights, Saw, Kiss The Girls, The Cradle Will Rock, Justice League, and the Billionaire Boys Club among dozens of others. 

Cary recently starred alongside Michael Sheen and Natalie Emmanuel in The Last Train to Christmas. He’s slated to star alongside Tom Cruise in Mission Impossible 7 for director Christopher McQuarrie. And he’s starring opposite Jason Statham in Guy Ritchie’s next film, Five Eyes. Other recent films include the Netflix feature A Castle for Christmas, as well as the The Unholy, which was produced by Sam Raimi, and the indie film, Best Sellers, opposite Michael Caine.

You also know Cary from his numerous appearances on such popular TV shows including: Psych, Stranger Things, Family Guy, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, and The Art of More. 

He also produced and wrote Elvis & Nixon, which starred Kevin Spacey and Michael Shannon. 

Cary’s first memoir, As Your Wish: Inconceivable Tales from the Making of The Princess Bride, became a New York Times Bestseller. It’s an incredibly fun read! 

With twenty-one bucks to her name, out of desperation, she wrote a screenplay in 12 days and sold it “overnight” which launched her writing career. 

Karen’s writing credits include Welcome Home, Roxy Carmichael, Stepmom, Because I Said So, and Miss Meadows, which she also directed. Karen also wrote and directed A Woman’s a Helluva Thing. She received an Emmy nomination for Showtime’s What Girls Learn, and she won the Humanitas Award for ABC Family’s Searching For David’s Heart. She also sold and produced a branded series for the Web with Sony/Crackle. 

Karen co-wrote a series of films with Eleanor Coppola called Love is Love is Love, and she was a writer-associate producer on the Apple series Little Voice.

Recently, she sold a series called Aqua Tofana to Netflix, for which she is writing the pilot. She’s also writing a feature called Twisted Sister for Sony. And she wrote a horror film, Lil Holly O, that she hopes to direct. 

Beyond film and TV, Karen’s also working on a book of short stories that cover subjects very meaningful to her like the 99c store, her dog, the miserable state of politics, evil people that get away with evil things, the theater of sex, and more.

Over the past decade, Stephen has worked to bring in and support diversity in the entertainment industry. Through a partnership between The Hollywood Reporter and Big Brothers-Big Sisters of Greater Los Angeles, he created the award-winning Women in Entertainment Mentorship Program, pairing high school juniors from South Central L.A. with top-level women in film and TV. More than 250 teenagers from disadvantaged backgrounds have participated and gone on to college.

Stephen spearheaded The Hollywood Reporter’s new Empowerment in Entertainment event. Oprah Winfrey and Stephen joined forces to launch` a leadership program for young men and women of color called the Young Executives Fellowship.  

As an author, in 2017, Stephen published the book Leading Lady: Sherry Lansing and the Making of a Hollywood Groundbreaker. In March of 2022, he published to wide critical acclaim Truly, Madly: Vivien Leigh, Laurence Olivier, and the Romance of the Century.  I’ve read Truly, Madly and can highly recommend it to you as a beautifully written, in-depth story of one of the most passionate, intense, and difficult show business relationships ever.

He was invited to perform in the 75th Annual Academy Awards. He also performed in the 25th Anniversary of the Kennedy Center Honors, in featured tributes to Chita Rivera & Elizabeth Taylor. 

A Pittsburgh native, Billy has performed with the Pittsburgh CLO, Pittsburgh Public Theatre, City Theater, The Pittsburgh Playhouse, The Pittsburgh Symphony and Front Porch Theatricals, where he was last seen in the local premiere of the musical, Big Fish, playing the lead role of patriarch, Edward Bloom, a role that made him runner-up for the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Performer of the Year.

Billy is currently the Executive Director of the Center for Theater Arts, which offers an award-winning professional curriculum of more than 80 classes in the performing arts, including singing, dancing, acting and more. 

Her CD “Everyone Has A Story” showcases cabaret and theater songs. The CD, “Changing My Tune,” features jazz-based new standards co-written with Joel Evans.  One appears in the film Doubt, others in Netflix’s Holidate and Disney+’s WandaVision, and yet another was selected by the Australian Discovery Orchestra for Broadway Records’ CD 16 Stories: New American Musicals. Legendary songstress Sue Raney recorded Adryan’s song “Late In Life,” co-written with Shelly Markham. Barry White recorded Adryan’s “The Better Love Is, The Worse It Is When It’s Over.” And the song “Fire In Me” is performed by emerging artist Luara. 

A longtime member of ASCAP, The Dramatists Guild, and the Recording Academy, Adryan has served on the board of the Society of Composers & Lyricists. 

Please stick around after the show to enjoy two great songs, “Top of the World,” co-written with Joel Evans, and sung by Adam James, and “Matters of the Heart,” co-written with Doug Haverty and sung by Tami Tappan Damiano.

            Drusky Entertainment currently presents hundreds of live concerts and events every year throughout the Western Pennsylvania region.

            One of Brian’s greatest achievements is in helping to bring a wide variety of events and acts to the revered Music Hall of the Carnegie Library of Homestead, ranging from Patti Smith to Frank Caliendo, to Cary Elwes and even William Shatner, the latter two of which I know a little, since I was privileged to moderate the Question and Answer sessions for both events. 

In 2020, Andy's first novel, “Royalties,” was published to enthusiastic reviews. The multi-generational, historical romance is based on the lives of his paternal grandfather, the legendary comedian, Groucho Marx, and his maternal grandfather, the renowned songwriter, Gus Kahn, whose hits include "It Had to Be You," "Makin' Whoopee," and "Dream a Little Dream."

Andy has produced special programming for Sirius/XM’s “Siriusly Sinatra” channel. And he’s currently recording an album of many of his grandfather’s most famous songs. The first single, “Ukulele Lady,” was recently released.

Andy co-founded the popular comedy website, Hollywood & Swine, known for its lampooning of Hollywood. Entertainment Weekly referred to it as "The Onion of the entertainment industry.” 

He currently serves as an advisor to Paradox, a technology company dedicated to streamlining the dealmaking process for everyone from writers to distributors. 

Myla’s play, Felix & Fanny, will be presented in November, 2022, at the Barbican Centre's Milton Court Theatre in London featuring The Carducci String Quartet.   California Artists Radio Theatre recorded Felix & Fanny with Michael York and Samantha Eggar, airing it on NPR and Sirius XM radio.  Felix & Fanny is the first of Myla’s 4 Musicmakers Plays.  California Artists Radio Theatre also recorded Brigid of Kildare, featuring Samantha Eggar, Monte Markham, and a star-studded cast.  

Olympia Dukakis read the lead role of Sara in Myla’s play, Learning to Dance in the Rain in New York City. It was also a semi-finalist in the Ashland New Play Festival and a Finalist in the IATI Theatre Award Contest.

Myla’s plays, The Stone of Kilhara and The Peacemakers were read at San Diego’s Old Globe Theatre.  The Peacemakers won 2nd place in the Stage & Screen contest and was workshopped at The O’Neill Playwriting Conference Center in CT.

Sixteen of Myla’s plays are available through Lulu.com.

           Ed’s written for shows including: The Academy Awards (for which he received an Emmy nomination), Comic Relief, Stand Up To Cancer, ESPN’s ESPY Awards, Whose Line Is It Anyway, Dennis Miller Live (for which he won both an Emmy and Writers Guild Award), Sabrina The Teenage Witch, Melissa & Joey, The Showbiz Show with David Spade, I Kid with Brad Garrett, Michael Buble’s Christmas in New York, The Drew Carey Show, Ultimate Beastmaster, Still Laugh-In, and The Final Table. Ed has also written stage material for big acts like Robin Williams, Bob Newhart, Howie Mandel and Louie Anderson. 

She earned her BA, MA and MFA from Cal State University Fullerton in both lighting and scene design. While a student, she worked as an assistant technical director, and became a founding member of the Cabaret Dinner Theater in Fullerton CA.  

Paula taught part time at Golden West College, Cal State San Bernardino, and full time for a year at USC in Los Angeles. 

In 1980, Paula was recruited by WED Enterprises (now Walt Disney Imagineering) and began her 38+ year career in theme park lighting design.  Her most notable design projects include numerous shops, restaurants, and landscapes at Disneyland. She was the lead lighting designer for DisneyQuest at Walt Disney World and Chicago, and for Club Disney and Disney Studios Paris. Her favorite project is the Rock’n Roller Coaster Avec Aerosmith at Disney Studios Paris.

Her continuing role as an educator includes working with stage lighting and controls manufacturer ETC on their student sponsorship and mentoring program.

Now retired from Disney, she consults on theme park projects, including on site lighting direction for the Motiongate Theme Park in Dubai.

Paula is also one of the contributing authors of the book “Women of Walt Disney Imagineering: 12 Women Reflect on Their Trailblazing Theme Park Careers.” 

Marcus’s professional writing career began by winning the Richard Rodgers Award for Red, which he wrote with composer Bree Lowdermilk. His show Yo, Vikings! with composer Sam Willmott, was featured in the HBO Documentary, Song of Parkland, and has been produced all over North America. 

Marcus and composer, David Dabbon, were commissioned by the Pittsburgh Civic Light Opera to write the original musical, Game On, which was produced during the CLO’s 2019 season. 

Marcus has developed, directed and contributed material to Theaterworks USA’s Dragons Love Tacos and Other Stories, which enjoyed a two-year U.S. tour. His family musical Wake Up, Daisy! with Composer Sam Willmott, will be produced at the Swedish Cottage Marionette Theater in Central Park in the Spring of 2022.  

Marcus directed Tony Nominee Josh Young in his concert, Josh Young Sings Andrew Lloyd Webber, which has been performed across the United States. 

Marcus’s acting credits include the off-broadway productions of Forbidden Broadway: Alive and Kicking! and Forbidden Broadway Comes Out Swinging! He’s featured on both original cast recordings. He also played the D’Ysquith Family in A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder at the Florida Rep. Company, and God in An Act of God at the Pittsburgh Public Theater. 

His next book, Ernest Lehman: The Sweet Smell of Success, will be published by the University Press of Kentucky in fall of 2022. 

At age 23, he debuted Off-Broadway in the title role in Groucho: A Life in Revue written by Arthur Marx, son of the legendary comedian Groucho Marx. For that role, Frank won New York’s Theatre World Award and a New York Outer Critics Circle nomination. He revived the role in London’s West End, where he was nominated for the Laurence Olivier Award for ‘Comedy Performance of the Year.’ 

Since then, he’s reprised the role more than 3,000 times in over 500 cities throughout the world primarily in his touring solo show An Evening With Groucho, which was filmed at the Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park and re-titled Frank Ferrante’s Groucho for broadcast on PBS.

The Chicago Tribune named Frank a 2019 top ten theater performer for his work as comic host, The Caesar, in the cirque spectacular, Teatro ZinZanni – a role he’s played for 20 years. 

At Philadelphia’s Walnut Street Theatre, he directed and played the lead role of Pseudolus in A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, which the Wall Street Journal called one of the country’s top 10 performances of 2017.

In 1995, he directed and developed the world premiere of the Pulitzer Prize finalist Old Wicked Songs.

On television, he played a speaking mime on Rob Corddry’s Emmy Award-winning comedy, Childrens Hospital, and his voice can be heard on the animated series SpongeBob SquarePants and Garfield. 

In October 2021, Frank received a 'star' on the Palm Springs Walk of Stars for his contributions to theater.

On today’s StoryBeat, which was recorded in February of 2022, we’ll continue to explore what’s happening in Hollywood during the time of Covid. Chris is on the forefront of motion picture production, and we’re truly fortunate to gain his great insight into the ever shifting landscape of today’s entertainment industry.

Douglas’s original scores have been premiered by such companies as: Pittsburgh Public Theater, Microscopic Opera Company, The Warhol, The Playhouse REP, Conservatory and Junior Companies, Attack Theatre, Pennsylvania Dance Theatre, Pittsburgh Classical Theatre, Dreams of Hope, Gateway to the Arts, Renaissance City Women’s Choir, Pittsburgh Musical Theater, Opera Theatre  of Pittsburgh and WQED FM. 

Please be sure to stick around at the end of the show, because Doug has given us a great treat. We’ll hear three of his songs, The Mother Age, Not That Kind of Lawyer, and Zoey and Jake. 

Scott’s screenwriting credits include K-9, Alaska, and Trojan War. 

Since 2008, Scott has hosted GoIntoTheStory.com, the official screenwriting blog of the Black List, which was named the Best of the Best Scriptwriting Website by Writer’s Digest Magazine. 

He’s also the author of the book, The Protagonist’s Journey: An Introduction to Character-Driven Screenwriting and Storytelling.  Available April 2022.

Scott is currently an assistant professor of screenwriting at DePaul University.

Most recently, he released the highly acclaimed book, Monsters, Celebrities, Actors, Athletes, and Rock Stars: The Book of Top 10 Horror Lists, which contains 100 top ten lists from pop-culture notables. Charles even include Steve Cuden’s Top 10 Horror list in his truly wonderful book.  

Since 1978, Charles has produced Beatles Conventions and Festivals, and since 1983 he’s been the organizer and host of the “Magical History Tour” which brings Beatles fans to Liverpool and London. 

For over 20 years, Charles published and edited one of the world’s most famous Beatles/Sixties magazines, “Good Day Sunshine.” Charles has also promoted Monkees conventions since the early 80s. 

As an MC, Charles has shared the stage with countless entertainment figures, including Charles Grodin, Geraldo Rivera, and the late Danny Aiello. 

Charles was an on-air host on the QVC/Home Shopping Network. He’s also a professional comedic auctioneer, and has developed the horror host persona of “Cryptmaster Chucky” for Scared Stiff TV.

Additionally, Charles is an accomplished actor with credits on over 40 films, TV shows, and commercials. He has appeared in Flight of the Conchords, All Screwed Up, The Truth About Lies, Kvetch, The Sadist, and the webisode series Winners. He was most recently featured in the thriller, Night at The Eagle Inn. 

Charles also leads Dracula Tours in Transylvania and GHOSTours in England.

Emmys, Annies and an Academy Award have graced productions containing their music since the beginning of their careers. From New York’s Lincoln Center to The Hollywood Bowl and beyond, their live concert music has received critical acclaim. 

Stars of stage and screen, including Mark Hamill and Neil Patrick Harris, have performed songs written by this dynamic trio. From “Batman: The Animated Series” to “Young Justice,” “Marvel’s Avengers Assemble” and “Teen Titans,” they create signature musical worlds that iconically represent each.

Corky has performed at the White House with Tony Bennett, soloed with Barbra Streisand at the Hollywood Bowl and Central Park, with Bjork on her MTV special, and with George Michael at Royal Albert Hall.  And she’s played and/or recorded with no less than Frank Sinatra, Ella Fitzgerald, Peggy Lee, Nat King Cole, June Christy, Anita O’Day, Roberta Flack, Melissa Manchester, Judy Collins, Mel Torme, Chet Baker, Joe Williams, Benny Carter, and numerous others.

            Corky made her Carnegie Hall debut in 2007, as a pianist, with the New York Pops Orchestra and was among the stars at the 2011 Mary Lou Williams Festival at the Kennedy Center.

Corky is the only woman to have played for Billie Holiday and she performs an annual Billie Holiday Birthday Concert at the Catalina Jazz Club in Hollywood.

            For more about Corky, please be sure to check out the book, “Corky Hale Uncorked: A Life of Music, Marriage, and Making a Difference.” Of note, Corky’s been married for 50+ years to the legendary composer Mike Stoller, who, along with his writing partner, Jerry Lieber, created some of greatest, most popular song hits in music history.

In just 5+ years Robert and his band, Project Grand Slam, have released 10 celebrated albums, including a Billboard #1, have had over 4 million video views, over 1 million Spotify streams, and gained more than 50,000 Facebook fans. He’s played festivals and concerts around the world and opened for Edgar Winter, Blues Traveler, Boney James, Mindi Abair, and an after-show for YES.

In March 2021 Robert started the Follow Your Dream Podcast to inspire and motivate others to pursue and succeed at their dream – whatever it may be. Robert’s initial podcast guests have included “Cousin Brucie” Morrow, America’s most famous radio personality; Anton Fig, drummer on The David Letterman Show; Mort Crim, longtime Detroit television anchor; Robert Funaro, star of The Sopranos; Steve Katz of Blood Sweat & Tears; and I’m pleased to say I’ve managed to sneak on as a guest, too.  

Robert wrote the Follow Your Dream Handbook to accompany the podcast. The handbook is part memoir, telling his unique and compelling story, and part how-to, explaining his DREAM theory - the exact steps that he followed and that readers can follow in order to pursue and succeed at their dream.  

Robert’s other Broadway appearances include playing Javert in Les Miserables, and his high-flying performance in another dual role, Dr. Norman Osborn aka The Green Goblin in the rock musical Spider-Man: Turn Off The Dark. 

Robert’s first big break was playing Lancelot opposite the legendary Richard Harris’s King Arthur in the U.S. and Canadian tours of Camelot. He’s also performed in Kander and Ebb’s, And The World Goes ‘Round, Off-Broadway as Nathan in The Rothschilds, and years later as Mayer Rothschild in Rothschild and Sons, which was also staged in London’s off-West End.

Robert’s undertaken challenging roles at numerous theaters all over the U.S., appearing in Maury Yeston’s and Arthur Kopit’s Phantom of the Opera, leading roles in numerous productions of Shakespeare plays, and in classic plays and musicals like Amadeus, 1776, Guys and Dolls, South Pacific, The Sound Of Music, Funny Girl, Oklahoma!, The Man of La Mancha, Jesus Christ Superstar and many more. 

He’s created roles in new musicals and plays, including, White Guy on The Bus, A Moon To Dance By (with Jane Alexander), and Bikeman: A 9/11 Play, among others.

TV credits include: The Sinner, Elementary, White Collar, Baywatch, Sliders, recurring roles on All My Children, One Life To Live, Loving and The Guiding Light. Also, you can see Robert in such movies as: The Stranger, The Rest of Us, Impossible Monsters, Columbus on Trial, and Woody Allen's Celebrity. 

As a director Robert has staged Jekyll & Hyde at Houston’s Theatre Under The Stars, the Westchester Broadway Theatre, North Shore Music Theatre, and here in Pittsburgh at the CLO. He’s also directed productions of The Glass Menagerie and The Merchant of Venice at the Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey. 

Robert has sung at a host of venues around the U.S., and his exceptional voice can be heard on the original Broadway cast recording of Jekyll & Hyde, and on the cast recordings of Rothschild and Sons, And The World Goes ‘Round, The Maury Yeston Songbook, and Jacques Brel Is Alive And Well And Living In Paris. And please be sure to check out Robert’s debut solo album, The Look Of Love. 

            Please note: our humble apologies for technical audio issues mid-show that were beyond our control. Despite the less than ideal sound quality, Robert gives us the gift of his great experience and deep wisdom 

Currently, Cary is a co-lead alongside Michael Sheen and Natalie Emmanuel in The Last Train to Christmas. He’s slated to star alongside Tom Cruise in Mission Impossible 7 and 8 for director Christopher McQuarrie. He’s starring opposite Jason Statham in Guy Ritchie’s next film, Five Eyes. He recently wrapped the Netflix feature A Castle for Christmas, as well as the The Unholy, which was produced by Sam Raimi, and the indie film Best Sellers opposite Michael Caine.

You also know Cary from his numerous appearances on such popular TV shows including: Psych, Stranger Things, Family Guy, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, and The Art of More. 

He also produced and wrote Elvis & Nixon, which starred Kevin Spacey and Michael Shannon.  

Cary’s first memoir, As Your Wish: Inconceivable Tales from the Making of The Princess Bride, became a New York Times Bestseller. If you haven’t had the opportunity to read this outstanding book, please get yourself a copy.  It’s an incredibly fun read! 

Her new memoir “Always Young and Restless,” from Diversion Books, and written with one of OUR favorite StoryBeat guests, Dana L. Davis, is now widely available at fine booksellers everywhere. I’ve had the opportunity to read “Always Young and Restless,”  and I can tell you it’s wonderfully heartfelt and thoroughly entertaining. I highly recommend it.

Melody is also known for her charitable efforts with the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences Television Cares and the Save the Earth Foundation. 

She lives with her husband, Producer Edward Scott, and beloved rescue terrier, Reilly, in Beverly Hills, California 

Bryan is best known for his portrayal of Walter White on AMC’s Breaking Bad and as Hal in Fox’s Malcolm in the Middle. In 2021, he was seen starring in the Showtime limited series, Your Honor, which he also executive produces.

Recently, Bryan was in El Camino: A Breaking Bad Movie, also on the big screen starring opposite Kevin Hart and Nicole Kidman in The Upside, and streaming on Disney+ in The One and Only Ivan. 

Bryan made his Broadway debut as President Lyndon B. Johnson in All The

Way, winning the Tony Award for his efforts. He went on to produce the film adaption of the play through his production company, Moonshot Entertainment. And in 2019 he finished a Broadway run of Network based on the iconic film written by Paddy Chayefsky, for which he won his second Tony Award.

Moonshot Entertainment has also developed three television series for Amazon including Sneaky Pete, The Dangerous Book for Boys, and Philip K. Dick’s Electric Dreams, and also the animated series SuperMansion for Sony Crackle.

Aside from his acting career, Bryan is the New York Times bestselling author

of his terrific autobiography, A Life In Parts, in which he revisits the many parts he’s played on and off camera. Ultimately his memoir is illuminating about the transformative power of hard work. 

Bryan proudly released an artisanal Mezcal, “Dos Hombres” with his longtime friend and occasional “cooking” partner, Aaron Paul.

In 2016, StoryBeat host, Steve Cuden, had the great privilege of interviewing Bryan live on stage at Point Park University in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. 

Michael has appeared more times as a regular cast member than any other Star Trek actor in the franchise's nearly 55-year history, spanning some 272 TV episodes and 5 feature films. He also appeared as Worf's ancestor, Colonel Worf, in the film Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country. 

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