Dedication

This episode is dedicated to the memory of my friend James Bortak, who in high school, introduced me to the wonders of Guy Gavriel Kay’s works, and shared with me many brunches, games of chess, and cups of Twinings black currant tea, over which we discussed the stories and the magic of the world of the Fionavar Tapestry.

You are missed, Jim. I hope wherever you are, your resounding laugh and brilliant soul are bringing happiness to those around you, and that you know great peace. If we see one another again someday, I hope we can brew another cup, set the pieces on the board, and let the intellectually stimulating conversation begin again.

With love,
Daniel

TODAY ON THE SHOW!

He’s one of the most successful and multiple award-winning authors alive today. He worked with Christopher Tolkien on “The Silmarillion,” has published fourteen novels and a book of poetry, and his combined works have been translated into thirty languages worldwide. He was also named to the Order of Canada, the country’s highest civilian honor.

He has a true love of literature… and like a good Canadian… hockey. Here today to talk about a great many things, as well as his newest novel, “All the Seas of the World,” it’s an absolute honor to welcome Mr. Guy Gavriel Kay.

Guy's website = brightweavings.com

Purchase "All the Seas of the World" by clicking here

Follow Guy on Twitter by clicking here

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He’s no stranger to podcasts… and the mysteries of the Cosmos.

He’s an Astrophysicist and Astrophysics Professor at the City University of New York’s College of Staten Island as well as an associate with the Hayden Planetarium and Department of Astrophysics at the American Museum of Natural History in New York.

This Harvard and U of A graduate not only studies colliding galaxies, quasars, and the star formation history of the universe, but he’s also a frequent co-host on StarTalk with Dr. Neil deGrasse Tyson, and… is an award-winning author.

If that weren’t enough, he’s a devoted husband, father of three cool kids, is the President of the Astronomical Society of New York, and in 2019, was named a Fellow of the American Astronomical Society.

Despite all of this, in his own words, “he’s just an astronomer guy.”

It’s a real honor to welcome, Dr. Charles Liu!

If you'd like to learn more about Astronomy and Astrophysics, check out these links:

Dr. Liu on StarTalk

American Museum of Natural History - Astrophysics

Hayden Planetarium

NASA's website

Astronomy.com

American Astronomical Society

Buy Dr. Liu's book here:

Hardcover = https://amzn.to/3mQi95h
Kindle = https://amzn.to/3kFsfmZ

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#moonbird #podcast #podcasting #Entertainment #entertainer #EntertainmentIndustry #movies #tv #DanielScherl #memoriesofamoonbird #charlesliu #NASA #astronomy #astrophysics #astrophysicist #telescope #explore #space #outerspace #spaceprogram #nyc #ny #newyork #hayden #haydenplanetarium #americanmuseumofnaturalhistory

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He’s a fascinating human being, and an award-winning environmentalist. He’s the Director of Government Relations and Public Policy for Scenic Hudson, the New York based organization credited with launching the modern grassroots environmental movement. There, he oversees the organization’s engagement with local, state and federal government officials, and directs grass-roots and legislative lobbying campaigns.

He's the recipient of the Land Trust Alliance’s National Ambassadors Award for Advocacy, has successfully helped the passage of legislation critical to the Hudson Valley’s way of life, and helped raise billions of dollars in federal, state and local funding for the environment.

In his spare time, he’s also an avid cyclist, bicycle mechanic, camper, and musician, who dabbles in blacksmithing and gardening. But this champion for the Earth and father of two great kids is not battling just the environment.

In 2015, his wife Jenny was diagnosed with breast cancer, and as a family, their journey through treatment and management continues to this day.

Here to talk about those struggles and life lessons, the environment, and so much more, please welcome, Mr. Andrew Bicking.

If you'd like to learn more about Scenic Hudson, click here.

If you'd like to learn more about helping the environment, check out these organizations:

Riverkeeper: riverkeeper.org

Clear Water: clearwater.org

Sierra Club: sierraclub.org

Environmental Defense Fund: edf.org

Nature Conservancy: nature.org

The Audubon Society: audubon.org

If you'd like to learn more about breast cancer awareness: bcrf.org

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#moonbird #podcast #podcasting #Entertainment #entertainer #EntertainmentIndustry #movies #tv #DanielScherl #memoriesofamoonbird #scenichudson #andybicking #environment #hudson #hudsonriver #hudsonrivervalley #earth #breastcancer #bicycle #life #family #nature

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For over forty years, and with over 200 IMDb credits, he’s made you laugh, cry and feel everything in-between. You’ve seen him in shows and movies like Ally McBeal, Home Improvement, Small Soldiers, Hail, Caesar!, Gremlins, the Howling, and the Orville, to just scratch the surface of his long and distinguished career.

Since the 1980’s, he’s been a staple on television, film and stage, and he’s played iconic roles like Dr. Dick Richards on China Beach, the Cowboy in Innerspace, Coach Cutlip on The Wonder Years, the Emergency Medical Hologram (or EMH) on Star Trek Voyager, and Richard Woolsey on Stargate.

If that’s not impressive enough, this Emmy-nominated actor has also been a director, and is an accomplished author and singer.

In his real life, he’s a proud Dad of two daughters, is on the Executive Board of the Planetary Society, the non-profit space advocacy organization originally formed by Carl Sagan, Louis Friedman and Bruce Murray, and I’ve heard he makes a pretty awesome pasta.

It’s a great honor to welcome, Robert Picardo.

Books we referenced on the show:

1) The Hologram's Handbook by Robert Picardo and Jeff Yagher

If you'd like to learn more about Bob, check out his links:

Bob's website

YouTube

Instagram

Twitter

Facebook

Cameo

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#moonbird #podcast #podcasting #Entertainment #entertainer #EntertainmentIndustry #movies #tv #DanielScherl #memoriesofamoonbird #Astronomy #carlsagan #keeplearning #explore #space #outerspace #spaceprogram #planetarysociety #theplanetarysociety #picardo #robertpicardo #bobpicardo #chinabeach #startrek #startrekvoyager #stargate #emh

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She’s a NASA Astrophysicist who’s no stranger to public speaking.  She’s talked about her passion for all things space and science from the Library of Congress all the way to ComicCon.

Today, she works at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center, and using data from the Hubble Space Telescope, studies how stars and black holes form in distant galaxies and how those processes change over time. 

She’s also the Deputy Project Scientist For Communication for the James Webb Space Telescope, and Associate Director Of The Astrophysics Science Division.

In addition to all of that, this former Southerner and amazing woman is also, in her own words, a “pilot, yogini, home brewer, Great Dane mom, and Pearl Jam super fan girl.”

Please welcome, the super cool, and forgive the pun... out of this world... Dr. Amber Straughn!

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Books we referenced on the show:

1) "The Three Body Problem" by Cixin Liu

2) "If You Give a Mouse a Cookie" by Laura Numeroff

3) "A People’s History of the United States" by Howard Zinn

------------

If you'd like to learn more about Dr. Straughn, the James Webb Space Telescope or NASA, check out these links:

1)  Amber's Website and her social media is @astraughnomer

2)  The James Webb Space Telescope

3)  NASA's website

------------

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#moonbird #podcast #podcasting #Entertainment #entertainer #EntertainmentIndustry #movies #tv #DanielScherl #memoriesofamoonbird #amber #amberstraughn #astraughnomer #NASA #JamesWebb #JamesWebbSpaceTelescope #arkansas #astronomy #astrophysics #astrophysicist #telescope #explore #space #outerspace #spaceprogram 

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For more than ten years, as a first responder, she’s helped save people’s lives and been on the front lines of healthcare as a paramedic in Munich, Germany.

Born and raised in Germany, she also grew up in the country that only eighty years ago was at the center of World War II.

Today, we’re going to talk about what it’s like to see human beings in some of their most fragile moments, as well as delve a little into what it’s like growing up in the shadows of war and the Holocaust.

Please welcome, Sabine Einicke!

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If you'd like to learn more about the Holocaust, please visit:

1) Yad Vashem - The World Holocaust Remembrance Center

2) History.com - The Holocaust

3) The United States Holocaust Museum

4) The Shoah Foundation

------------

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#moonbird #podcast #podcasting #Entertainment #entertainer #EntertainmentIndustry #movies #tv #DanielScherl #memoriesofamoonbird #sabine #SabineEinicke #Einicke #paramedic #ambulance #Munich #Erfurt #germany #medicine #worldwarii #war #holocaust #shoah

* Memories of a Moonbird is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com.  I may get commissions for purchases made through links at no cost to you whatsoever, and I thank you in advance!

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When it comes to the need for speed… he’s the real deal.

As a fighter jet pilot for the United States Navy, for nearly 25 years, he flew the F/A-18 Hornet and Super Hornet and the F-16. He accrued almost 4,000 flight hours, over 700 carrier landings, and served as both a TOPGUN Instructor and Air Wing Operations Officer.

Today, this family man flies for one of the major airlines and hosts his own awesome podcast called, appropriately, “The Fighter Pilot Podcast.” There, he explores the fascinating world of air combat: the aircraft, the weapons systems, and most importantly--the people. And you should absolutely subscribe.

I’m excited to chat with this amazing man, and fellow podcast host, about all things jets, life in the skies, what it feels like to be in control of something moving 1,200 miles an hour… and what his experiences around the globe have taught him about life back here on Earth.

Check out Vincent's podcast, The Fighter Pilot Podcast, by clicking here and check out the episode we referenced about Call Signs right here:

Click here to see Vincent on YouTube talking about how real fighter jet scenes in movies are!

The books we referenced:

"October Sky" by Homer Hickam *
https://amzn.to/2PdRj8T

"Lone Survivor" by Marcus Luttrell *
https://amzn.to/3dJpjmZ

"Tools of Titans" by Timothy Ferriss *
https://amzn.to/2QK4vCV

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Want to start your own podcast?! Use my affiliate link with Buzzsprout and you get a $20 Amazon Gift Card after signing up! They host this show and we love them!  Click here to get started!

#moonbird #podcast #podcasting #Entertainment #entertainer #EntertainmentIndustry #movies #tv #DanielScherl #memoriesofamoonbird #VincentAiello #Aiello #FighterJet #FighterPilot #FighterPilotPodcast #Navy #ArmedForces #jet #jets

* Memories of a Moonbird is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com.  I may get commissions for purchases made through links at no cost to you whatsoever, and I thank you in advance!

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For over thirty years, you’ve seen and heard him in almost every form of media you can imagine: Film, television, theater, video games, radio, magazines, the internet…

He’s “that guy.”

He’s been in movies, and t.v. shows like Star Trek Discovery, Straight Outta Compton, Argo, Mad Men, Castle, Criminal Minds, Bosch, Grey’s Anatomy, Breaking Bad, and many, many others, not to mention more than a hundred national commercials for the biggest brands in the world like Capital One, Dell, FedEx, Audi, Marriott, Heineken, Quickbooks, State Farm, and Coca-Cola, just to name a few…

In addition to his incredible career, he’s also one of the most renowned acting teachers in Los Angeles and a man with a fascinating life story.

Check out Rob's acting classes at An Actors Space, by clicking here.

The books Rob referenced:

"Manchild in the Promised Land" by Claude Brown *
https://amzn.to/3tfgire

"Stand on Zanzibar" by John Brunner *
https://amzn.to/3d93QDZ

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#moonbird #podcast #podcasting #Entertainment #entertainer #EntertainmentIndustry #movies #tv #DanielScherl #memoriesofamoonbird #Brownstein #RobBrownstein #actor #acting #actorlife #teach #education #hollywood #AnActorsSpace

* Memories of a Moonbird is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com.  I may get commissions for purchases made through links at no cost to you whatsoever, and I thank you in advance!

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She’s one of the most passionate, smart, and inspiring women you’ll ever meet. Through her social media platform called “Astroathens,” she advocates for science and the arts, and teaches astrophysics in a fun way that makes it enjoyable for everyone.

Her background is in stellar and planetary formations, proto-planetary disks and exo-planetary systems, and in addition to bringing outer space down to earth, she’s also a social media influencer and an international model who’s traveled the world.

She says, “If sharing my story might inspire just one person who may feel torn, stuck, or fearful to pursue a life of uncertainty or an unconditional career path, then I feel as though I’ve begun to make a difference in the future of innovative creators.”

Links for you to explore!

Athena's Website: astroathens.com

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Follow Daniel and the Memories of a Moonbird Podcast:

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#moonbird #podcast #podcasting #Entertainment #entertainer #EntertainmentIndustry #movies #tv #DanielScherl #memoriesofamoonbird #Astronomy #carlsagan #neildegrassetyson #cosmos #anndruyan #bonjovi #athena #athenabrensberger #astroathens #keeplearning

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As an archaeologist and professor, for more than thirty years, he’s explored the ancient world of the Greeks. Anthropologically trained, and with a resume too long to read you during an intro, today, he’s not only an Endowed Professor and the Chair of the  Department of Anthropology and Archaeology at the University of Missouri-St. Louis, but he directs the interdisciplinary excavation of the Mycenaean palace at Iklaina, in Pylos, Greece.

He has a long list of papers, publications, awards, and personal appearances, which you can read about in the show notes and on his website, not to mention his services to academia where he focuses his interests on the social, political, and cultural history of ancient Greece, with a special focus on social memory, origins of states and complex societies, and mystery cults.

He’s a Fellow of the National Academies of Arts and Sciences of Canada, a member of the European Academy of Sciences and Arts; a Corresponding Member of the Greek Academy of Arts and Sciences; an honorary member of the Archaeological Society at Athens; and a National Geographic Society Explorer.

Links for you to explore!

Michael's Website: michaelcosmopoulos.org

Iklaina Website: The Iklaina Archaeological Project Website

Iklaina Facebook: The Iklaina Archaeological Project Facebook

UMSL Greek Studies: www.umsl.edu/~greekstudies/

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#moonbird #podcast #podcasting #Entertainment #entertainer #EntertainmentIndustry #movies #tv #DanielScherl #memoriesofamoonbird #archaeology #archaeologist #history #historian #Cosmopoulos #MichaelCosmopoulos

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For close to thirty years, she’s worked as a scientist for U.S. AID, the United States Agency for International Development. Today, she’s the Chief of Research, Technology and Utilization in the Office of Population and Reproductive Health.

Originally from Calcutta (Kolkata), India, and having worked and traveled many places in her life, she’s seen sides of the world that not many of us do.

In addition to holding two Masters and a PhD, she’s also a mom and a passionate artist who’s going to talk with me about what it was like growing up in India, putting her art on hold for 25 years, and working in public health.

If you'd like to learn more about U.S. AID, click here (https://www.usaid.gov/).

If you want to see Mihira's amazing and unique artwork, click here! (https://mihira-karra.pixels.com/).


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Follow Daniel and the Memories of a Moonbird Podcast:

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 YouTube: http://bit.ly/MoonbirdYouTube

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#moonbird #podcast #podcasting #Entertainment #entertainer #EntertainmentIndustry #movies #tv #DanielScherl #memoriesofamoonbird #USAID #MihiraKarra #art #artwork #health #publichealth 

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You may not know it, but you’ve watched him jump off buildings, get yanked out of a perfectly good plane, and even try to take down a gigantic Transformer. For over 20 years, this renowned stuntman and actor has entertained you in some of the most successful television shows and movies and has almost 200 credits on IMDb to prove it.

Not to mention more than a few bumps and bruises along the way.  :-)

In addition to his incredible skills as a performer, he’s also a world class jet skier, athlete, dedicated husband and father, and my goodness if he isn’t just a fantastically nice guy.

It gives me great pleasure to welcome, my friend, Chris Gann.

If you'd like to learn more about stunt training, head on over to the Stunt Performers Academy by clicking here.

Follow Chris on social media:

 Chris on Instagram = @chris__gann
Chris on Facebook = @ChrisGannOfficial
Chris on Twitter = @Chris_Gann

#ChrisGann #stunts #stuntman #stuntdouble #stuntlifestyle #moonbird #podcast #podcasting #Entertainment #entertainer #EntertainmentIndustry #movies #tv #DanielScherl #memoriesofamoonbird


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Follow Daniel and the Memories of a Moonbird Podcast:

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 YouTube: http://bit.ly/MoonbirdYouTube

 Pinterest:  https://www.pinterest.com/memoriesofamoonbird/

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She’s a Swiss army knife of artists! She’s a singer, songwriter, musician, actor, dancer, choreographer, and public speaker with a silky voice that’s garnered her more than 3,500 performances in her career so far.

She’s opened for artists like Bruno Mars, Shawn Colvin, Paula Cole, Lisa Loeb, Anna Nalick, Josh Kelley, and Andy Grammer, just to name a few. But before she was performing with all of those amazing artists, we worked together back when I was a full time music producer. She’s smart, funny, talented, charismatic, and a lover of the color blue like no one else… please welcome, Alyssa Jacey!

If you'd like to check out Alyssa's music, head on over to her website or any of her music and social media links below!

Alyssa's Website = https://alyssajacey.com/
iTunes / Apple Music = https://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/alyssa-jacey/id295171062
Facebook = https://www.facebook.com/AlyssaJaceyMusic
Instagram = https://www.instagram.com/AlyssaJaceyMusic/
Twitter = https://twitter.com/alyssajacey/
YouTube = https://www.youtube.com/user/alyssajacey
SoundCloud = https://soundcloud.com/alyssajacey

And that song Alyssa couldn't remember?  "I Wanna Be Bad" by Willa Ford = https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S5tKILoxrQ4

#AlyssaJacey #AlyssaJaceyMusic #BringTheCrewandWearYourBlue #musician #music #singer #artist #guitar #love #songwriter #producer #newmusic #song #instamusic #art #livemusic #musicians #musicislife #songs #singersongwriter #WillaFord

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For more than 30 years, she’s been working in conservation to protect shore birds around the planet. She’s not only a Biologist and Field Ornithologist, but she's also the actual scientist who banded B95, the world famous Red Knot who was nicknamed "Moonbird," and whom my podcast  and website were founded in honor of.

Zooming in all the way from Argentina, she was kind enough to share with me the history of the real Moonbird, a look back on her career, and her views of the future of the Earth.

Her name is Patricia González, and it’s my honor to welcome, on this very special 50th episode of the show, the fabulous woman known around the globe as the ”Mother of Moonbird.”

* * * * *

Patricia is the Shorebird South American Coordinator with the International Conservation Fund of Canada (ICFC) and is the Ad Honorem Wetland Program Coordinator at Fundación Inalafquen in San Antonio Oeste, Argentina.

Learn more about birds at https://www.birds.com/ and https://www.allaboutbirds.org/

Patricia's Scientific Contributions at https://www.researchgate.net

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Hello friends!  And welcome to The Epilogue with Moonbird, my annual wrap-up and look back over the last twelve months.

Sign up now for the mailing list and get notified whenever new episodes premiere!  Click here to sign up!

You can also get early access to the episodes and support the show all-at-once! Click here to head on over to Patreon and sign up now!

Have a Happy and safe New Year and see you in 2021!

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For over fifty years, he’s worked in the entertainment business as a director, writer and producer. He created iconic shows like the V miniseries, and characters like Jaime Sommers in the original Bionic Woman. He’s also produced, and directed, The Incredible Hulk, Alien Nation, Short Circuit 2, Steel, and JAG.

He’s graduate of Carnegie Mellon, a father of four, and a winner of multiple prestigious awards.

You can learn more about Kenny at his website: kennethjohnson.us

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Hello, friends! Today on the show:

He's a lover of good music, a family man, and rocked some pretty great hair styles over the decades… and for more than twenty years, he’s also been a very well-respected film and television director. His long list of IMDb credits include shows as Alias, Law & Order, Blood & Treasure, Veronica Mars, Criminal Minds, Revolution, Arrow, Supernatural, and many, many others.

He’s a great conversationalist, dog lover, and a self-proclaimed muscle car and Tesla enthusiast.  In his spare time… he also dabbles in construction and other creative projects, and he’s just a really nice guy.  Pun intended.

See Guy's IMDb page here: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0066218/

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He’s a true artisan who’s been working with wood for almost 15 years, turning gorgeous bowls on his lathe, and his pieces are as unique as he is.  But why is he so unique?

Because… he's blind.

Today, I’m going to talk with this Master Craftsman about his life’s journey, what caused his blindness, and how, without being able to see, he transforms a chunk of wood… into a work of art.

Check out John's beautiful wood work at his website, furnissstudios.com

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For over 30 years, she’s worked in women’s health. She started her career as nurse and today is a certified doula and childbirth educator who’s helped welcome hundreds of babies into the world.

She’s passionate about working with people, talking about pregnancy, and birth, and helping families settle in to life with a new baby.

As a mom of four herself, she’s no stranger to all of those things. She says, “I believe that birth is an extraordinary expression of who we are, and I have always felt privileged to walk alongside a family as they meet the challenges and joys that mark this profound transition.”

Learn more about Janet and her services as a Doula at her website: thebellyblossom.com

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She holds multiple degrees in music, has taught in universities from America to Transylvania, and throughout her amazing career, has been an honored guest conductor all across the world.

She’s not only passionate about music and the importance of arts education, but also the human experience itself.

Today, she’s the Director of Bands and Professor of Music at Texas Tech University. Read more about her by clicking here.

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They’re a married couple raising four kids here in the United States.
 
Their youngest child, Declan, was born with cCMV, or congenital Cytomegalovirus, which eventually led to Cerebral Palsy.

Now, after having spent several years raising a child with cCMV, they have a website and a podcast to not only help other parents of the world understand the disease, but to share important information about cCMV and hopefully be a resource they wish they’d had when they first started this journey.

Today, they’re here to share their story.

Please visit their website, at: https://www.thehoutoguide.com/

The National CMV Foundation:  https://www.nationalcmv.org/

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He’s a gentle giant with a wonderfully dry sense of humor and a rich, booming bass voice as smooth as they come. Over the last twenty years, he’s shared the screen with a multitude of actors like Ryan Reynolds and Adam Sandler in movies like Deadpool and Anger Management, and is very well known for playing Bo’sun in Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl.

But he’s not just another pretty face! As a voiceover artist, he’s had the pleasure of bringing his incredible talents to more than sixty video games like World of Warcraft, Transformers, Half-Life, Halo, Street Fighter, and is the voice of Thanos in Marvel video games and the Marvel television series Avengers Assemble and Guardians of the Galaxy.

He’s also a really nice person to sit and have lunch with if I do say so myself.

You can follow Isaac on social media at: instagram.com/isaacsingletonjr

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Today’s episode is the first in what I hope will be a series spanning many decades.

The idea of this series is to follow one young woman for many, many years, on her journey through life. The inspiration for this came from the “Up” series in Britain, a television show I’ve been incredibly moved by and wanted to do my own version of.

The first portion of this premiere episode was recorded in November of 2019, one year ago. After Covid-19 changed the world, we recorded a follow-up, which you’ll hear in the second part of the episode.

Part 1:  Tuesday, November 26th, 2019.  4:00 p.m. Two days before Thanksgiving.

Her name is Clare Whitney, and at the time of this first recording, she’s getting ready to leave for Australia to go to college at The University of Canberra.

Clare is the daughter and only child of Justine and Scott Whitney. They’ve been friends of mine for more than a decade, and Justine is not only an amazing Australian chef, but was one of the first guests on my show.

I met Clare when she was eight years old. Justine and Scott had agreed to allow us to shoot part of a short film in their home, and we not only hung out with their family, but some of the the chalk drawings that Clare had made on their sidewalk actually made it into the film. None of us knew back then that her artwork cameo would later lead to a project of this scope.

As we begin this journey, I not only wanted to ask Clare about her hopes, dreams, and goals, and how she thought her first year abroad at University would go, but I also wanted to give someone from her generation a chance to have a voice and talk about how they see the world today.

Welcome… to the life of Clare Whitney.

Part 2:  Wednesday, September 23rd, 2020.  7:00 p.m.

I talk with Clare ten months after our first episode to see how her life is after moving to Australia just before the Covid-19 pandemic changed the world.

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For over fifty years, he’s been taking care of people in ways that would make most everybody a little uncomfortable. As a Funeral Director, he’s helped literally thousands and thousands of human beings through grief and the process of losing someone they loved.

Now retired, he was kind enough to sit with me and talk about his journey, his perspective on the world, and what it was like to work around death for most of his life.

Get ready for a really fun and poignant conversation with our family friend, and one of the nicest people you could ever meet, zooming in from Topeka, Kansas, Mr. Fred Holroyd.

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He’s one of the most interesting people you’ll ever meet.

He was not only the Director of Academic Support for 22 years at the UCLA bookstores, but he’s traveled many places around the world, been a hippie, a playwright, an actor and now after retiring, helps cook food for the homeless in Los Angeles.

At 72, he looks back on a life lived with a myriad of experience and today, this California native is going to talk with me about that very thing… the journey of life.

With a passion for literature and a voice that should be narrating every documentary ever made…

Please welcome, Jacques Freydont!

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She’s a musician, actress and all around amazing human being who’s doing her part to bring a positive awareness and healing to the world.

Many people around the globe know her as Dotti, the Guinness-loving lass as part of the infamous and revered comedy show, “The Washing Well Wenches” that’s performed at renaissance faires and festivals all across the United States.

And while she’s loved blacking out her teeth and making people laugh, her real passion is music. Raised by musical parents, she's the front of Kristen Lynn & The Foxgloves, a band whose blues-folk music has been described as a "head-turning, foot-tapping, ground-breaking twist on progressive blues-folk-Americana style with a modern vintage sound.”

Wow! I’ve heard them live and they are fantastic.

In addition to all of those amazing things, she’s also someone who’s passionate about helping people. Her mother passed away sixteen years ago, and earlier this year, she unexpectedly lost her brother. Through her own losses and grief, she feels compelled to connect with others through that process. 

Using her skills as an artist and a great communicator, she performs a live stream every Monday bringing joy and positivity through music.  But since her sudden loss happened she’s been opening up about her grief, and the response… has been astounding.

She says, “It’s the first time I'm creating through unbelievable heartache but wanted to move towards the pain, not away from it."

Please welcome, the amazing Kristen Lynn!

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I’m excited to welcome one of the coolest women you’ll ever meet!

For more than thirty years, as an Assistant Director in network television and studio feature films, she’s worked on some of the biggest shows and with the biggest stars on programs like The Sopranos, Veronica Mars, The Shield, X-Files, CSI, and Deep Space Nine, just to name a few. She eventually created her own production company called “Wanderlust Films,” and began writing, producing, and directing her own projects.
 
Over her long career,  and as a woman in the entertainment business, she’s seen just about everything, from the darkest moments that led to the #MeToo movement, to the brightest accomplishments of a well-trained cast and crew.
 
 A lover of horror movies, a proud Mom, and an uncensored, kick ass human being… please welcome Venita Ozols-Graham!

Check out the official "Who Wants Dessert?" Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/WhoWantsDessert1/

Nightmare's Film Festival world premiere October 21 - 25: https://nightmaresfest.com/

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Hello friends! Can you believe it’s been a year?!

October 14th, 2020 is the first anniversary of the launch of this podcast and my accompanying website: memoriesofamoonbird.com.

In honor of that, today’s episode is not an interview with someone interesting and inspiring, but rather, a story that’s hopefully a little bit of both.

This episode is a companion piece to a post on my website entitled “An Unexpected Blizzard.”  It’s something I tried to record a year ago, but at the time, wasn’t able to get through for reasons that will become obvious. It continues a profound lesson I learned that I think has never been more relevant than today.

So, with no further ado…

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He’s a passionate artist, musician, and an educator who’s been teaching astronomy for over thirty years. He’s exhibited his art at several different venues and released six albums of original music. But this renaissance man has also volunteered his time as a Scout Master for more than twenty years, helping teach kids about the importance of a connection to nature. 

We met in our early twenties when we both worked at a music store in Buffalo, NY. We became fast friends and even got in trouble for having fake lightsaber battles in the aisles with rolled up movie posters.

Today, we’re going to talk about the importance of music, education, our shared love and admiration of Carl Sagan, and maybe do a little reminiscing along the way.

Please welcome, Zooming in from Buffalo, New York, the city of my Alma Mater, my very good friend, and really cool human being, Stephen Dubois.

Stephen's Artwork: https://www.instagram.com/sduboisartwork/

Stephen's Music:  https://stephendubois.hearnow.com/beyond-the-dome and https://stephendubois.bandcamp.com

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She’s a scientist who was born in Russia, speaks three languages, and loves good chocolate, ice cream and tea. She currently works for the Max Planck Institute for the Science of Human History. There, she studies archaeological samples from the Silk Road that are thousands of years old in the hopes of discovering many long-hidden aspects of ancient humanity.

If that’s not cool enough, when she got her Ph.d, she made two expeditions to the Batagay crater in Siberia, a place that’s been nicknamed “The doorway to the Underworld.”  There, she studied something called the permafrost archive to reveal environmental changes that occurred in our world 120,000 years ago.

What’s permafrost? Why study those ancient samples? We’re going to find out about all of that, and a whole lot more, as we talk about everything from life, love, and the Russian sense of humor, to cultured meat, and how the science of ancient humans affects us not just today… but in the future.

Please welcome, Zooming in from Germany, Paleoecologist and Paleobotanist, Dr. Kseniia Ashastina!

How about some links, courtesy of Dr. Ashastina?!

If you’re interested in permafrost but don't like to read... check out these comics on permafrost:  https://frozengroundcartoon.com/cartoons/

If you would like to know more about permafrost research in Germany - visit www.awi.de

Are you counting mammoths not sheep before falling asleep? Check https://www.senckenberg.de/en/institutes/senckenberg-research-institute-natural-history-museum-frankfurt/location-weimar/ and https://www.s-vfu.ru/en/university/mammoth/

Everything you wanted to know about Siberia: https://siberiantimes.com/home/

And do you want to know more about fascinating archeological projects around the world? Visit https://www.shh.mpg.de/en

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He spent more than twenty-five years in the newspaper business and today, is an award-winning author of multiple detective stories.

His own series, helmed by protagonist Aristotle Socarides, is a fantastic deep dive, pun intended, into the world of a local Cape Cod private-eye with enough charisma and character to fill eight books and… a possible ninth.

He also co-authored the NUMA Files series with legendary adventure novelist Clive Cussler.

He’s a family man born and raised in New England, and when asked about his family, says, “We have a total of three children and seven granddaughters who are, naturally, the most beautiful and intelligent young ladies on the face of the planet.”

At 81, he’s still writing and in my opinion, as charming as the characters he created.

It’s my honor to welcome, zooming in from a sometimes spotty internet connection on Cape Cod… author, Paul Kemprecos!

You can buy Paul's books at Amazon here: https://www.amazon.com/Paul-Kemprecos/e/B001IU0RWM?ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1&qid=1599694921&sr=8-1/

Paul's website: http://www.paulkemprecos.com/

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For more than thirty years, you’ve loved the incredible creations and stories she’s helped bring to life on the big screen. As a world-renowned makeup artist she’s worked on more than forty feature films, including movies like The Princess Bride, The Muppet Christmas Carol, The Fifth Element, Lincoln, and Ready Player One just to name a few, and with directors like Mel Gibson, Brian De Palma, Cameron Crowe, Luc Besson and Steven Spielberg.

She won the Academy Award for Best Makeup for her work on Braveheart and was nominated for a second Oscar for Saving Private Ryan.

But makeup is just one of her life’s passions. She’s also an animal lover who raises her own group of furry friends, and today, in addition to her continued work in Hollywood, volunteers her time serving as both a Governor for the Makeup and Hairstylists Branch, as well as the Vice President of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences.  There she helps with a slue of wonderful programs. And did I mention that she’s just a fantastically nice person?

Please welcome, the incredibly talented, gracious and kind, Lois Burwell.

If you'd like to learn more about the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, please visit their website at: www.oscars.org.

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As a cinematographer, he’s traveled to a multitude of places from the extremes of the Himalayas to the war torn countries of Afghanistan, the West Bank and Palestine.

While he has an impressive list of commercial clients like Esteé Lauder, Delta Airlines, Stella Artois, Dodge, Dior, Adidas, and Samsung to name a few… but his real passion is for the narrative pieces he works on that focus on social issues and political struggle worldwide, where he says his goal as a Director of Photography is to “create images that will affect the viewer on a subliminal level.”

Please welcome, Cinematographer David McFarland!

To view David's amazing work, please visit his website at: davidmcfarlanddp.com

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She’s a helicopter pilot who spends her days transporting life-saving organ transplant teams around Southern California. She’s also dedicated herself to a life of adventure in and out of the workplace. She says:

“My mission is to spread the message that anything you dream is possible, and I want to encourage people to go after what they want in life without letting fear get in the way.”

To learn more about Diane, check out her social media links below:

Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/foreveronthefly/
TikTok:  https://www.tiktok.com/@foreveronthefly
Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/pages/category/Video-Creator/Forever-On-The-Fly-113353363728242/

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She’s a Professor of Psychology and happiness researcher at James Madison University in Virginia.  There, she focuses on communication in the digital age and the issues of addiction and reliance on social media.

She also loves travel and even incorporates it into her curriculum. Having been all around the globe… she’s also a fellow Moonbird.

Her passion for travel in combination with her career led her to write a book called “The Happy Traveler: Unpacking the Secrets of Better Vacations.” I’ve read it myself and I truly believe that it should be mandatory reading for anyone thinking about taking a trip.

Today, we’re going to talk about life, travel in the modern age, dig into some of the psychology that goes into our vacation decisions, and find out how we can all be better travelers… and better human beings!

Buy Jaime’s Book here: “The Happy Traveler” on Amazon.com

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She has no shortage of courage… and adrenaline.

If rock climbing, BASE jumping, skydiving, and a plethora of other adventures weren’t enough, this adventurer is also a best-selling author, entrepreneur and public speaker. Her first book, “Journey of Heart,” told the story of losing her father and brother to an avalanche on Pakistans tallest mountain, K2, and her journey back there to try and recover their remains.

Her second book, "Changing Gears: Ups and Downs on the New Zealand Road" is the story of her soul-searching 28-day solo cycle across both of New Zealand's Islands. Later this year, she’ll be releasing her third book, “Dream of Flight,” a detailed look at her journey literally learning to fly using a wingsuit.

In addition to her literary success, she started a non-profit organization to support the creative needs of children called “The Denali Foundation,” named after her brother. Come listen to this amazing and inspiring woman.

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You’ve seen him on tv in everything from sitcoms to soaps, but for almost thirty years now, you’ve actually heard him even more.

From the gangster "Vito Scaletta" in the famous Mafia video game series to a plethora of roles in Marvel, Transformers, Halo, and other successful franchises, he’s lent his voice-over talents to hundreds of titles and commercials that you know and love.

He’s also been on broadway and stars in a touring one-man show he co-created called “Channeling The King.”

It's a pleasure to interview a man who’s no stranger to a microphone…  the very funny and incredibly talented, Rick Pasqualone!

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It's a very special episode of the podcast when I interview Warren Brush, a man who has spent the majority of his life helping the world. What's a global resilience design consultant?  Come find out and learn about the amazing person he is.

For over thirty years he’s worked in agroecological education and regenerative system design for communities, private and public organizations, households, farms, and conservation properties worldwide in North America, Africa, the Middle East, Europe, and Australia.

He’s also co-founder of Quail Springs Permaculture, Wilderness Youth Project, True Nature Design Consulting, and is an advising founder of the Permaculture Research Institute of Kenya.

His efforts with youth globally include: working with former child soldiers in West Africa, teaching organic gardening skills with refugee families, and inspiring inner-city youth to discover their inherent gifts through unique education programs that inspire a connection to nature and to themselves.
 
I’m honored to interview Mr. Warren Brush.

If you’d like to learn more about Warren and the organizations he’s involved with, check out quailsprings.org, permaculturedesign.us, and wildernessawareness.org.

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For more than thirty years, you've been enjoying his dry, British wit in movies and television shows like The Good Place, Friends, Brooklyn 99, 2 Broke Girls, Seinfeld, Buffy, General Hospital, Gilmore Girls, Bones, Mad Men, The Social Network, Austin Powers, Mad Men, Castle, the Big Bang Theory, and classic video games like Lord of the Rings.

He’s funny, charming, and smart as a whip. He’s also very passionate about food, which is something we have in common. Our shared love of great baked goods has led to a friendly rivalry he aptly named the “Game of Scones.”

If you're ready for a really entertaining show, some good laughs, and some poignant conversation... well, this may not be the episode for you. ;-)

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As an advisory, this episode contains content that may not be appropriate for some listeners. The topics of sexuality and sexual abuse are discussed, so if these things make you uncomfortable, or you’re listening with folks who may be too young for these subjects, please know that this is an unedited and explicit episode.  Thank you.

He grew up closeted and impoverished in the Ozarks of Southern Missouri. That led to many of his personal inspirations for change.  His first novel, “Confessions from the Pumpkin Patch,” was award-winning. His second novel, “The Calling Dream,” was just published earlier this year.

In addition to his work as a writer, he’s also been a clinical social worker focusing on trauma survivors for almost forty years. He says he draws from those experiences, and his own, to create his stories, and in his own words, says, “I want to be to mental health what John Grisham is to law.”

Enjoy this wonderful conversation with author Karlyle Tomms and visit him at karlyletomms.com.

If you or anyone you know has been sexual assaulted, please know that help is available.  RAINN is the nation's largest anti-sexual violence organization and you can reach them confidentially, 24/7 at 1-800-656.4673 or visit their website at rainn.org.

Additionally, in support of LGBTQ mental health specifically, there’s The Trevor Project who offer a safe and judgment free place to talk.  You can call the TrevorLifeline at 866-488-7386 or visit thetrevorproject.org.

Finally, you can also contact your own State Department of Mental Health Services for local referrals of people who can help.

Please know that you are not alone.

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He’s an Air Force veteran, engineer and web developer who turned his talents to writing because of a family mystery! His search for the truth unearthed a long kept family secret and tragedy worthy of a page-turning novel!

Come hear author Kevin Miller talk about the incredible tale of his book, “Heart of Steel.”

And if you’d like to get yourself a copy, you can find it on Amazon here:  https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07WCDGWZ9/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_hsch_vapi_tkin_p1_i0 and check out his website at heartofsteelbook.com.

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In light of the worldwide events after the death of George Floyd and the international protest and awareness that it’s created, I reached out to several people I know from the black community and asked them if they’d like to join me for an important conversation.

I wanted to find out what life is really like for them, how they feel about the world, and most importantly… where we go from here.

I interview six people ranging in age from 74 to 21, and from various backgrounds. They offer their perspectives on systemic racism, answer some questions about what it means to be black in America today, and talk openly about the future.

Please join us for this poignant and moving episode.

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He’s a very funny and talented guy and for almost twenty years, he’s been cracking us up on tv shows and commercials with his sarcastic and dry wit.

He’s also the creator and host of “Silly Billy Toys," a children's show on Amazon.

Today, we’re going to talk about life, entertainment, and the glory of Ben & Jerry’s ice cream.  Which just may be a vital component in the meaning of life.  Let’s find out!

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You know her from the legendary John Hughes movie, “Sixteen Candles,” where she played Marlene, the “sexy American girlfriend” of Long Duk Dong. It's a really fun episode when we go behind the scenes of this American classic and also talk about her love of travel and so much more.

In a recent follow-up portion of the podcast, we talk about life with the Coronavirus, the good things it's done for the world, and the unity of people across the globe.

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He's been flying around planet for thirty years and has flown more than 10,000 hours. Now he takes celebrities, dignitaries and executives where they need to go in a Gulfstream Jet. In the first part of our episode, which was recorded before the Covid-19 pandemic, we talk about travel, technology, the environment, and what it's like to be in the cockpit.

In a new follow-up portion of the episode, we talk about the Coronavirus, its effects on aviation, and touch on the recent events surrounding the death of George Floyd, racism, and the future.

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At night, she's a bad ass, motorcycle-riding mom and stand-up comedian.  By day, she's a bad ass, motorcycle-riding mom and Master Electrician who works in a field that's predominately male.

Whether it's climbing rigs, laying thousands of feet of electrical cable, or setting up all the various lights and gizmos that have to work, she not only does this as a woman in a man's world, but she’s done it fully pregnant… twice.

Come listen to Michelle Marie Maxwell talk about life as a legendary Mom.

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She was born hard of hearing, and grew up with a loneliness she says many don’t really understand.  Using humor, she’s spent the last few years creating awareness of those kinds of issues in the hopes of bridging the gaps and creating understanding between the deaf / hard of hearing communities and the hearing world.

She's also an artist, photographer and graphic designer… and... an awesome human being.

Join us as we talk about everything from cochlear implants to improv comedy.  From San Francisco… it's the very funny Jessica Flores!

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You know him as Elim Garak, the beloved Cardassian Tailor from all seven seasons of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, but he’s an Emmy nominated Actor, Director and Playwright, and for over fifty years has been performing in movies, television and on the stage.

In his early days, he portrayed the Scorpio killer in the classic film "Dirty Harry." He's also had an amazing career on stage, is a published author, and for fifteen years was the Director of the Master of Fine Arts program at UCLA.

Come enjoy an uplifting, funny, and moving podcast with my friend, the incredibly talented and wise, Andy Robinson!

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It's a very special episode of the Podcast when I talk with Dr. Kevin Baker. He's a retired dentist from Chicago, and he and my father were fellow dentists and the best of friends. They also traveled together back in the 1980’s on a couple of fantastic adventures, and today, we're not only going to talk about the meaning of life, love, and friendship, but also share some great stories and memories of this Moonbird’s Dad.

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For more than twenty-five years, he’s been a critic and reporter at newspapers including The Washington Post, Atlanta Journal-Constitution, The Detroit News and USA Today. 

He’s a wizard with words, wit and writing.

In 2000, in an effort to cure his juvenile diabetes, he became the recipient of a controversial kidney and pancreas transplant, the side effects of which can be as terrible as the disease.

Here to talk about that, and so much more, in a moving, and poignant episode you won't want to miss, is journalist Scott Bowles.

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She began her career in casting when she was only eighteen years old and has worked on huge Hollywood productions like Criminal Minds, Law and Order, and Star Trek. She not only continues to work in casting, but is also an acting coach, teacher, and consultant who believes wholeheartedly in actors.

Come listen to the amazing Erica Silverman Bream talk about the entertainment business, life after #metoo, raising children as a working mom and much, much more!

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I don’t know if he can get any more interesting. He grew up a Catholic Arab Israeli in Nazareth and after emigrating to America, began working behind the scenes in Hollywood as a cameraman and steadicam operator.  

Over the last twenty years, he’s worked on big budget shows like “Marvel’s Agents of SHIELD,” and a litany of cool music videos, commercials big brands, and films.  No matter what project he’s involved with, he almost always has an alien looking rig attached to his body called a steadicam. that can weigh as much as 40 pounds and costs upwards of $100,000… all to keep the visuals that we love, interesting, moving and smooth.

And while all of this is really cool… outside of the film industry, he’s not only a devoted husband and proud dad of three adorable kids, but he’s spent the last several years of his life on his own travels… inward.  He teaches a class on cleansing through the power of breath and sound vibration and he’s in the studio with a didgeridoo to prove it.  

Today, I’m going to talk with him not just about traveling around the world, but traveling within ourselves.

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A military mom on the move, she’s been serving with the United States Air Force for more than fifteen years and spent more than 3,500 hours in the air.  She joins us to talk about how travel has been such an extensive part of both her military career and her civilian life.

It's a fun-filled podcast, so come learn what it's like to refuel a plane in the air and much, much more!

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Almost always hidden underneath incredible prosthetics and costumes created by Academy-Award winning artists, he’s been the creatures, creepies, demons, aliens, and bad guys you’ve loved in movies and t.v. shows like American Horror Story, Star Trek, Grimm, Men in Black, Z Nation, Sleepy Hollow, and Teen Wolf.

Today, he’s not only currently the big bad guys on CBS’s new show “Evil,” but he’s also going to be appearing in the upcoming and highly anticipated Star Trek: Picard.

Come listen to Marti Matulis talk about life, travel, and what it's like to be the man... behind the masks.

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Hello friends!  And welcome to The Epilogue with Moonbird, my annual wrap-up and look back over the last twelve months.

Sign up now for the mailing list and get notified whenever new episodes premiere!  Click here to sign up!

You can also get early access to the episodes and support the show all-at-once! Click here to head on over to Patreon and sign up now!

Have a Happy and safe New Year and see you in 2020!

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It's a Happy Holidays podcast with author David Hofmeyr!

He joins me to chat about travel, life, and of course... writing.

His 2015 debut young adult novel, entitled “Stone Rider,” was a big success and has been described as a gripping, intense, and gritty dystopian thrill-ride with non-stop action.  His second novel, “The Between,” is being released this coming February, 2020, and fans worldwide can’t wait.

Pop in your headphones or turn on your stereo and off we go!

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As a professional chef, she's been serving culinary delights for more than 20 years. Originally from Australia, she made her way to the sunny shores of the West coast of the United States, where she created her own company, "Justine's Private Cuisine." 

She's also passionate about preparing her food with concern for the environment, and endeavors to lead by example. When it comes to sustainability, she's proud of being a farm-to-table private chef who uses locally sourced, organic ingredients and sustainable foods.

In addition to her amazing and inspiring work, she's also a wife and a mom as well as a world traveler. From Sydney to Paris and lots of places in between, her delightful humor and incredible culinary skills are only the beginning.  Join us, as she shares stories from her life, travel tips, and some insights into food. She even tells us what it was like to fly in the concord!

It's another fun-filled and informative podcast, so tune in now!

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Originally from Venezuela, he’s an actor and writer who is deeply passionate about the arts and human rights.  After high school, he moved to Los Angeles where he received a B.A. in Film Production and has been working behind the scenes as well as in front of the camera, an experience he says has made him an infinitely better actor by knowing how both sides work.

His passion for the arts is fueled by a love for conversation and representation, especially of the Latinx and LGBTQ communities.

Join us on this funny and poignant podcast as we talk about travel, social and political issues, and the quest we're all on to better understand the human condition.

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She’s no stranger to saying the most inappropriate things.

As a stand-up comedian, she’s been making people laugh for over ten years.

Originally from Brooklyn, New York, her passion for comedy stems from her East Coast Jewish roots, where she says her Dad always told her the same six jokes.  

She currently lives in Los Angeles, where she co-produces and co-hosts the “Whiskey and Donuts” Comedy Show.

When asked about her comedy, she says, “People are sad and things are tense. I want to be the one to break it up with a little humor.”

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In honor of Veterans Day, I was fortunate enough to interview a former Staff Sergeant and combat veteran. As a Ranger in the United States Army, he saw some of the darkest sides of humanity through combat in Panama, Bosnia, and the Gulf.  He’s a recipient of the Purple Heart, and a man who credits his service with allowing him to see the best in people and maintain a positive outlook on life, despite everything he’s seen and been through.

After his service came to a close, he achieved a degree in economics, and rose through the ranks of corporate America.  Over his career, he’s not only been a Senior VP, but today, is a highly sought after Senior Project Manager who works exclusively with the technology divisions of Fortune 500 companies, a far cry from his roots growing up in South Central Los Angeles.

His life story would make an amazing movie.

Both his military and civilian lives have taken him around the world, and through those experiences, he’s developed a love not only of travel… but of people, and the human condition, something we often talk about.

He’s someone I admire a great deal, and today we’re going to talk about not just travel, but life… and how truly fantastic the food in New Orleans is.  :-)

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She’s spent more time in the air than most of us ever will and is going to share some great travel advice from the perspective of a veteran flight attendant.

On today's episode, I have the privilege of interviewing Susi Riley, who's been a flight attendant with one of the major airlines in the United States for over twenty years.

Come find out what it's like to have a career in the skies!

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He’s known for playing "Dr. Phlox" on Star Trek: Enterprise, and has a long career in television and theater, but he's also one of the most well-read and intelligent people I’ve ever met, not to mention one of the funniest. He's here to talk about travel, his life, his career, environmental awareness, and the world today.

We also talk about he and his wife Bonnie Friedericy's work with the Hollywood Food Coalition, a non-profit organization that for more than thirty years has been providing meals and medical care for homeless and those less fortunate.

Beam down and enjoy this fun conversation!

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Memories of a Moonbird is about human stories.

Almost every week, I interview interesting people doing inspiring things.  From activists to actors and scientists to scholars, we talk about their hopes, their struggles, and what it means to be human.

How does a teacher help former child soldiers in Africa? What do hummingbirds sound like to a deaf person? What does an accountant think is the meaning of life?

Come join me and explore life… one story at a time.

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