Fascination Street

Will Wesley and Florian Fox Live At Luckenbach.Take a walk with me down Fascination Street, as I traveled 30 minutes from my house to Luckenbach, Texas to see previous guest of the show Will Wesley perform with his buddy Florian Fox. When Will was on the show last time, he mentioned that he & Florian would be playing Luckenbach a few months from then. So, true to his word, Will reached out to me as the date got nearer, and once again invited me to come see the show, and record another episode. This time, he introduced me to his good friend and tour mate, Florian Fox. Florian is a country singer all the way from Zurich, Switzerland! When Florian is in the U.S., he and Will tour together. When Will is in Switzerland, he and Florian tour together. What a great partnership! So my wife and I went to see them play together at The Thomas Michael Riley Music Festival, live at Luckenbach, Texas! My wife and I had never been there before, and this was one hell of a reason to go. In this episode, we get to know Florian, and how he was introduced to, and fell in love with country music. The two of them share the story of how they met, and why they instantly took a liking to each other. They share some tour stories, they explain why their different musical styles work well together, and they talk about some of the similarities in their music. Naturally, they wrote a song together, and they both graciously agree to let me play it! Both of these great country artists play across America, as well as across Switzerland and Europe. If you ever have the chance to see either, or both of them, DO IT! These gentlemen are a ton of fun to talk to and listen to! ******This episode was recorded LIVE at an outdoor music festival during a torrential rainstorm. I cleaned up the audio as good as I could, I hope you enjoy the episode!*****

Keaton SimonsTake a walk with me down Fascination Street as I get to know Keaton Simons. Keaton has been a Hollywood fixture in the music & film industry since he was a little kid. Keaton's parents, and grandparents have been in the film & television business for decades. His grandfather was a screenwriter for some of the most decorated & loved films in history, and his parents have both starred in & written some of the most beloved projects in the business. Keaton started off singing and acting in projects as a small child and quickly fell in love with playing music. In this episode, Keaton and I chat about his early years and some of those early projects. We then transition into his diving into the music scene. I ask him about his moving to Nashville, and some of the projects he has worked on as a musician. Keaton has played with some of the biggest names in music, like: Snoop Dogg, Danny Elfman, Jason Mraz, Pharcyde, Darryl McDaniels, Chris Cornell, Gnarles Barkley, and is currently the lead guitarist for Brett Young. I ask him about each of these projects, and Keaton shares fun stories of working with these music icons. Keaton explains what a musical director is and how he has been able to translate artists' musical ideas, into fully realized products. Naturally we talk about why some of the biggest musical stars of today are moving to Nashville, and what that city has to offer artists in the local the music scene. He even lets me play one of the songs he & Jason Mraz co-wrote! Keaton is currently on a world tour with country music showman Brett Young. If they are playing near you, you won't want to miss them!

Lips Speak LouderTake a walk with me down Fascination Street, as I get to know Nashville based rock band Lips Speak Louder. In this episode, we get re-acquainted with previous guests Angela Lese and Rachel Brandsness. Each of these women had their own solo episode, where we got to know their back story. So we don't do that in this one. Instead, we discuss how they met, why they decided to start a band together, and why it was deemed necessary to make it a duo. Having been previously associated with the bands: Flarelight, The Dead Deads, Taco Mouth, Fingernails Are Pretty, Jax Hollow, and The Raelyn Nelson Band, and Emily Wolfe; this ultra-talented pair has developed their own unique sound. Rachel explains how she had to tinker with pedals and amps to manage a low end, fuller sound coming from her guitar, and the research that went into it. They explain where the name of their band comes from, and how they got Emily Wolfe to produce the album; which was recorded at Sweetwater Studios in Fort Wayne, Indiana. We do discuss their 10 track debut album 'Consolation Prize', and some of the tracks available on it. They even graciously let me play my favorite song from the new album! Make sure you follow them on the social medias, and check out their website for vinyl, merch, and tour dates. They will be supporting Emily Wolfe on June 14th at The Levitt Pavillion in Denver for Pride Night.

JimratTake a walk with me down Fascination Street, as I get to know the Boston Shoegaze band Jimrat. This group of musicians got together in the Boston area after meeting in college, and various music scenes. Jimrat consists of: Sam Dvorin, Josie Arthur, Emma DeLaRosa, Elicia Benavides, and Tim Ro. In this episode, I get them to tell the story of how each of them came to be in the band. Since they each came along in a fascinating way, they tell the story 'popcorn' style. All of them have recently graduated or are still in college. They basically went to different schools. We got musicians from Boston University, Suffolk, Berkley, and Emerson. Throughout the episode, each of them explains how they came to Boston, and why most of them equate the city to living in Albuquerque! From Covid, to the cartoon Tom & Jerry, these young guns talk about everything. Finally, we discuss their new album. It's called 'Instant' and is 'an audio-visual album'. Each of the 11 tracks on the record have a corresponding video component, that all culminate in a 35-minute-long sensory experience like no other. They even let me play one of their favorite tracks from the record! Check out their audio / visual experience on YouTube by searching "Jimrat Instant", or checking out their website: WhoIsJimrat.github.io

Lorraine ZiffTake a walk with me down Fascination Street, as I get to know Lorraine Ziff: The Goddess of Slots. In this episode, we get to know Lorraine, and her early careers. She went to law school, then started her own paralegal company in Los Angeles. At the same time, Lorraine was beginning her acting career. Lorraine has appeared in dozens of film and television roles over the course of her storied career. Then one day, on a whim, she posted a video of her winning a nice little slot machine jackpot. The video went viral, and yet ANOTHER career was born! Drawing on her growing up near Yonkers Racetrack, she knew gamblers, and the gambler mindset. Lorraine began making more and more slot machine related videos, amassing a social media following numbering the hundreds of thousands! Thus, The Goddess of Slots was born. Now a bonafide gambling personality and celebrity; Lorraine spends half of her time acting in film and television projects (with 2 series about to be released) and the other half of her time christening the grand openings of high limit slot rooms, and slot tournaments all over the country. Lorraine has made a name for herself in the slot & gaming circles doing celebrity appearances at some of the biggest and most well known casinos; Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, and The El Cortez among them. The Goddess of Slots, herself tells us all about her newest and most exciting project to date. Lorraine is hosting 'The Dominican Daze Voyage' (Virgin Voyages' The Valiant Lady)Departing from Miami, FL on September 12, 2025, the Dominican Daze voyage offers a unique opportunity to sail alongside Lorraine and experience premium casino gaming at sea. Casino players and fans of the Goddess of Slots can participate in exclusive gaming events and enjoy Virgin Voyages' renowned amenities. All in a kid free, dress code free atmosphere!Pay attention, because toward the end of the episode, Lorraine tells us how to get COMPLIMENTARY cabins & tickets to embark on this fun filled exclusive casino cruise with one of the most unique and popular gaming influencers of today.Follow Lorraine Ziff on all social media platforms by searching for 'Goddess of Slots'.

Randee Dawn. Take a walk with me down Fascination Street, as I get to know Randee dawn. Randee is a journalist and author. In this episode we get to know Randee from her early days in Bensonhurst Brookly, to her NPR day, and even her beginnings as a music journalist. Randee shares stories about working with The Trashcan Sinatras, and Adam Schlesinger. She tells us about how her music fan attitude led to her working with the band Ivy, which turned into some really fascinating online blog projects. Then we discuss how she came to write for Alternative Press magazine, The Hollywood Reporter, and Soap Opera Digest, basically at the same time. In her soap opera journalism career, she covered: One Life To Live, Another World, and maybe just a bit on Passions!. Naturally I ask her about her interviewing Vincent D'Onofrio about the Forest Witaker TV show The Godfather of Harlem. Even though Randee made a bit of a name for herself writing Law & Order speculative fiction, that didn't come up in her interview with Vincent. Finally, we dive into Randee's books! Besides having developed an audience in the speculative fiction area, Randee Dawn has written a bunch of books. Her fun and dynamic storytelling has gotten her multiple novels published in a relatively short period of time. 'Tune In Tomorrow', 'Don't Touch That Dial', 'Leave No Trace', and 'The Only Song Worth Singing' have catapulted Randee into a new level of popularity. These novels have become so popular that the publishers are dying for more! Check out all of her work at RandeeDawn.com and find her on all the socials at Randee Dawn. Randee continues to write for Today.com, Variety, The Envelope, and The L.A. Times.

Eric & Eliza RobertsTake a walk with me down Fascination Street, as I get to know Eric & Eliza Roberts. You know Eric from over 800 acting projects: including The Pope Of Greenwich Village, Runaway Train, The Specialist, The Righteous Gemstones, Star 80, King of the Gypsies, and several hundred more. You know his wife Eliza from many, many projects like: The Howdy Doody Show, Animal House, Lois & Clark, and Dr. Who; as well as casting and producing in a myriad of other film and television projects. In this episode, we get to know where and how each of them grew up, and what got them into the industry. We also get to hear their love story. I love finding out how couples met, and this is a great story! Next, we launch into everything from movies and TV shows, and their experiences on those sets. Eliza shares stories of trying to help spouses & girlfriends of actors feel more comfortable with their partners doing love scenes. Eric shares behind the scenes stories on the sets of The Specialist (with Sylvester Stallone), and The Expendables. Eric then gets Eliza to share stories of helping get George Clooney cast in E.R, and even helping to convince John Travolta to accept his role in Quinton Tarantino's Pulp Fiction! We discuss Eliza's kids (Eric's step kids); one has Pi Bakeshop in Los Angeles, and the other is a VERY accomplished musician. Naturally, we discuss Eric's experiences on the most recent season of Dancing With The Stars, and Eliza explains how KISS's Gene Simmons helped shorten Eric's time in the competition. Lastly, we talk about the book! 'Runaway Train: Or, The Story Of My Life So Far' is Eric Robert's memoir (with Sam Kashner). We chat about why he decided to write the book, and how much help Eliza was in getting him to do it, and actually getting it made. This is a real Hollywood POWER COUPLE! They share the workload, and the credit. It was super sweet getting to see them pass the credit to each other. 

Kevin BrewerTake a walk with me down Fascination Street as I get to know Kevin Brewer. Kevin is a U.S. Navy veteran, who served for 7 years in multiple overseas duty stations; before being employed by both the Department of Justice (DOJ) & the Department of Defense (DOD). In this episode, we chat about why he joined the Navy, and what his job was in it. We discuss his duties as a cryptologic technician, and what his role was in narco terrorism, money laundering, drug trafficking, counterintelligence, and counter terrorism. Kevin has Top Secret security clearance, and I ask him to tell me all of the secrets! He politely declines, and then we move onto his health issues. While serving in Afghanistan, Kevin developed several serious health issues which culminated in his gaining nearly 100 pounds, and an inability to exercise, run, or even walk to the refrigerator. He was in a pretty dark place both physically and emotionally. He ended up doing a ton of online research and began to figure out some things that turned his health around. Kevin changed his diet, adjusted his mindset, and sought out specialized STEM CELL treatment. Slowly things began to change. Kevin lost some weight, started narrowing down the food items that were triggering him and causing inflammation, and eventually lost the weight. He gives most of the credit to a change in his mental performance and adjusting his perspective. Now Kevin has acquired a depth of understanding with regard to 'Mental Performance Mastery' & 'Heroic Performance', as well as regularly competing in Spartan Races. Kevin's new mission is to share what he has learned and spread the knowledge he has gained during this process. He has a daily affirmation podcast called RISE AGAIN FROM THE STRUGGLE, which has released nearly a thousand 1–2-minute episodes of encouragement & inspiration. Follow Kevin on Instagram at Coach Kevin Brewer and check out his podcast everywhere podcasts are available.

Jonathan GrossmanTake a walk with me down Fascination Street as I get to know Jonathan Grossman. Known in some circles as Johnny Keys; Jon is the keyboard player for the rock band Uncle Lucius. Jon is from Kentucky, and how he became part of this kickass south Texas band is a good story, I get him to tell it to me in this episode. We discuss his growing up in Lexington, and what he was doing after school before the universe aligned and Uncle Lucius rolled into his town. We also chat about other bands that have keyboard players in them, and even some fake movie bands that do. Uncle Lucius took a bit of a break a few years ago, and then through a series of magical events, they were almost forced back together. The television show Yellowstone happened to feature an Uncle Lucius song in the fourth episode of the first season. The song caught fire all over again and made the band look into getting back together to see what they had left in the tank. As it turns out, they had quite a lot. Since then, they have released 3 more albums and just recorded yet another one a few weeks ago live at Gruene Hall. I ask Jon about the royalty implications of having a song blow up on a TV show like that, and he give HUGE props to Austin attorney Gwendolyn Seale! One of their more recent albums is called 'Like It's The Last One Left' and features one of my favorite Uncle Lucius songs (All the Angelenos). Jon is gracious enough to let me play that song, and their massive hit (from Yellowstone) called Keep the Wolve Away. Naturally we talk about the live show at Gruene Hall, why they haven't headlined at world famous Stubb's in Austin, and Uncle Lucius' insane touring schedule. We end the show talking about some of Jon's other work. He releases music under the name 'Sleepy Jon', as well as performing live at Sam's Town Point (south of Austin) EVERY Wednesday that Uncle Lucius is in town. Three members of Uncle Lucius are in this weekly performing band with some of Arlo Guthrie's daughters. The band is called The Guthrie Girls. For tour dates, and new album information, check out YourUncleLucius.com

Frank MeyerTake a walk with me down Fascination Street as I get to know Frank Meyer. Frank has been a staple in the film, television & punk scene for the past 30+ years. In this episode, we chat about his growing up with some of the most supportive parents of their era. Frank's folks not only supported his hopes and dreams, but they also even took him to see some of the most iconic acts of all time. Frank recounts stories of seeing The Blues Brothers live, and even Eddie Murphy's Raw & Delirious shows. Then we get into some of Frank's work in television & film. Having spent several years with the G4 channel, Frank was an early podcaster with a very cool insight into the format. We bounce all over the place in this one. Frank shares stories of his antics with some of music's greats; like Cherie Currie, David Lee Roth, Dave Mustane, Van Halen, and Eddie Spaghetti. I get him to explain why he wrote books about Phil Spector, The Ramones, and even his series From Dude To Dad. Frank not only has his own bands: Frank Meyer & The Streetwalkin' Cheetahs here in the US, but also Trading Aces in Europe! Plus, he plays with FEAR, Cherie Currie, Range War, and Handsome Dick Manitoba's The Dictators. Fun stories involving The Stooges, and being a good hang. Frank even made documentaries about his buddy Hell Razah, and another one about Hip Hop 101. Check those out everywhere documentaries are available! Finally, we discuss Frank's debut solo album Living Between The Lines. I wouldn't be me if I didn't ask to play my favorite track from the album (Blue Radio)! Wu Tang Clan, Drew Barrymore, Eddie Spaghetti, and Keel stories abound!!

J. R. StokesTake a walk with me down Fascination Street, as I get to know filmmaker J.R. Stokes. J.R. is a writer, director, actor, producer from Staten Island, NY. In this episode, we chat about growing up in SINY, and what made him want to become a filmmaker. He shares stories of making his first Machinimas, and a short film or two leading up to his debut full length film. His previous short 'Headstone of Solitude' gave him the experience and the confidence to make his first feature film. During high school, J. R. developed what would become his initial full-length effort: 'Edge X'. As we discuss his latest project, we dive into what he decided to make a full-length feature film fresh out of high school, and why he chose such dark subject matter. He is also kind enough to share how a high schooler is able to afford to make a full-length feature film, so take notes! 'Edge X' is a film about adolescent drug addiction, and its pitfalls. In their first film; 'Edge X' stars: Cadence Meier, Alexandra Totillo, Randall Krauss, J. R. Stokes, and several others. This film is available FOR FREE on YouTube, as long as you have a registered YT account. Fair warning... 'Edge X' centers around intense drug use and has themes of violence & despair. This is a very dark film, but it is a good film. In my opinion, the production and cope of this film show a much more mature filmmaker than the J. R.'s age would indicate. Check out his channel SidsCinematics on YouTube, and rate it on Letterboxed and IMDB... if you are so inclined. But more than that; follow him on the socials to see what he has coming up next. I'm sure it will be a great watch and tell him you heard him on Fascination Street Podcast!

The Dutch KillsTake a walk with me down Fascination Street, as I get to know the Brooklyn based indie rock band The Dutch Kills. In this episode, we chat about how the band got together, and how involved NYU was in the process. The Dutch Kills consists of: Julia (vocals / guitar), Maxine (bass), Alec (guitar), and Heather (drums). We also discuss NYC as a whole, improv, the N train, to Astoria, and some community rehearsal spaces for NYC bands. The members are from all over the US, so we talk about why they left their towns of Fayetteville, Minneapolis, and Wilmington. We do mention Dawson's Creek (Joey & Pacey Forever!), before moving into their actual music. Their debut EP, called The Rot, was released last year, and their new single Cheap Love was released last month. Look for new singles to drop in a month or two but keep tuned to their channels for more updates and tour info. Also, if you have a time machine, go back to last week and check out their several unofficial shows at SXSW in Austin. The band does let me play their newest single Cheap Love, and it's a BANGER!

Bo DonaldsonTake a walk with me down Fascination Street as I get to know Bo Donaldson. Bo Donaldson and the Heywoods had the number one song in America in June of 1974; with the timeless hit "Billy, Don't Be a Hero". They also had hits on the charts all throughout the 70's. In this episode, we chat about how he got into music, and how his band came to be. Bo shares great stories about his mom deciding that she was going to meet Dick Clark and get him to make her son's band famous.... and then she did it! We also discuss some of the band's early days, where they opened for The Osmonds for over 300 shows. I pry just a bit into Bo's personal life and try to get to the bottom of some of the rumors about him dating Valerie Bertinelli before Eddie Van Halen. Along the way, we chat about each of the charting hits for the band, other fun Dick Clark stories, some previous guests of this show, Bo's real age, and why on earth he likes Cincinnati's Skyline chili so darn much! Plus, he lets me play their number one hit, as well as a little-known television show theme song the band wrote at the request of Dick Clark. Bo Donaldson and The Heywoods are still playing occasional shows in and around Southern California, and they are even playing a show in Buffalo, Ny in July. Check BoDonaldsonAndTheHeywoods.com for everything about the band; including new music, and tour dates.

Gerry Rasmussen Take a walk with me down Fascination Street as I get to know Canadian cartoonist Gerry Rasmussen. In this episode, we chat about how Gerry got into drawing, and how he started making money with his artistic skills while still in elementary school by selling on the spot drawings of 'Denis the Menace' to fellow school kids. Next, we get into how he met his co-creator, Gary Delainey at art school. Together, they produce a daily comic strip called 'Betty'. They have been making this comic strip for nearly 50 years, and due to its runs in The Edmonton Journal, and other publications; it is one of the most recognized comics in Canada! Being featured on GoComics.com and syndicated by King Features doesn't hurt either! 'Betty' has been popularized throughout modern popular culture for several decades; even a fun tie-in with The Edmonton Oilers hockey organization. We also touch on some of the children's books Gerry has illustrated, such as 'Sniffy the Beagle' with author Rita Eagle; and the sports books: 'Crazy About Hockey', 'Crazy About Soccer', & 'Crazy About Basketball' by author Loris Lesynski. Finally, we discuss his passion for teaching art to kids and adults. In partnership with a couple of universities in and around Edmonton, Gerry teaches, draws, and motivates the next generation of art enthusiasts. If you happen to see him at Red Deer Polytechnic (formerly Red Deer College), or The Pygmalion School of Art, tell him you heard him on Fascination Street Podcast!Special thanks to Gerry's son Nils Rasmussen (Uncle Outrage) for turning me onto his spectacular father!

Chris MaherTake a walk with me down Fascination Street, as I get to know Chris Maher. Chris is an actor who currently has 8 projects in either pre or post production. In this episode, we chat about his growing up in Council Bluffs, Iowa, and the long and winding path he took to find acting. After spending some post graduate time in China to study finance, and a stint in law school, Chris gets a call to become a runway model. This led to some work in commercials, and eventually roles in short & feature films. We cover his entire journey from traveling the world with his school choir, to his time in China, Chicago, and Miami. Coincidently, we each share a story about Power Rangers and Iowa. Finally, we discuss each of his 8 forthcoming projects. I ask him about all of them, which takes us on several detours. Some of his friends and co stars are previous guests of the show. This episode was recorded about a week before the premier of his new film Boardwalk Winter. Keep your eyes peeled for this fella! Many of these projects are coming out soon, and some are out now. Find him in film & TV, just about everywhere! I hope I didn't make it too weird for him in his FIRST podcast interview!Look for Chris in:Rescue: Hawaii Surf (TV)Canyon of the Dead (film)Desert Dawn (film)FTX: Descent into MadnessDivision (a short film)Boardwalk Winter (film)No Dogs DieVindicatorThe Lost KeysLover, Stalker, KillerBleeding HeartNova

Peter JasonPeter passed away on February 20, 2025.Take a walk with me down Fascination Street as I get to know veteran actor Peter Jason. In his episode we chat about why he became an actor, and some of his more memorable roles. We talk about working on 48 Hours with director Walter Hill, his connection to Frank Marshall, as well as working with John Carpenter, and some of the fun he has had on the sets of Deadwood and Baskets.Then we jump into his new film Deep In The Forest; which is released TOMORROW! (May 31st). NO SPOILERS!! But he does lay out the premise of the film and it sounds FASCINATING!Follow Peter on social media:Insta: PeterJason99FB: Peter JasonWebsite: PeterJason.net

Marcus MonroeTake a walk with me down Fascination Street as I get to know Marcus Monroe. Marcus is a comedian now, but was a juggler for many, many years. I guess he is still both. In this episode, we chat about why Marcus decided to learn magic as a child, and then not long after, decided to be a juggler. He tells me a few stories from his juggling days; including some of his time juggling on various cruise ships. From Celebrity Cruises, to Disney Cruise, Marcus has performed on them all. He even tells a crazy story about how he got to juggle on Late Night With David Letterman, and an even more insane story about the time he was the opening act for the band Cake. Marcus and I exchange Neil Patrick Harris stories. Mine makes me look like a psychopath, his turns out pretty good! Next we turn to comedy. Marcus explains why he decided to get into comedy, and we talk about his "Subway Series"; which is how I found him. He releases videos of him telling VERY corny jokes to unsuspecting NYC commuters. These videos are a ton of fun! Finally, we discuss he previous podcast Talkie Walkie, and his newest podcast The Boy Friends Podcast. Check out his videos on Instagram, and get his podcasts everywhere you listen.

JoJo GarzaTake a walk with me down Fascination Street as I get to know JoJo Garza. JoJo is the bass player for the Grammy winning Texican Rock band Los Lonely Boys. In this episode, we chat about how the Garza brothers got together and became a rock band. JoJo explains how his dad taught them all how to play nusic from a very early age. It doesn't hurt that both sides of the family have music royalty and Tejano music icons. Of course we discuss their meteoric rise to fame with their 2003 mega hit song HEAVEN, and some of the amazing things that came with it's success. JoJo shares some fun stories about meeting some of his music idols, and even a heart warming tale of Willie Nelson giving the Garza brothers the shirt off his back... sort of. Los Lonely Boys are back, with their first new album in 11 years. RESURRECTION is exactly what you want from another Los Lonely Boys album. There are several hit singles on the new record, and JoJo let's me play my favorite track from it!. Catch Los Lonely Boys on their nationwide tour; with supporting bands including: Los Lobos, Del Castillo, Texican Legacy, The Cisteros, and more. Get tour and ticket info at LosLonelyBoys.com

Roger MookingTake a walk with me down Fascination Street as I get to know Roger Mooking. Roger is a chef, a TV personality, a musician, artist, and author. In this episode, we chat about why his family moved from Trinidad to Edmonton, Alberta when he was a toddler. Then we get into why he got into music, and we cover his music career highlights; including MC Mystic, The Maximum Definitive, and Bass Is Base.  Next, we discuss why he decided to get into the culinary world, and how he ended up getting his first TV show. Of course we talk about the many shows that have followed, even to this very day. I fanboy a little bit about when I first discovered Roger, and he lets me plat my favorite song of his. Then we talk about his relationship with time, and time as a concept itself. Finally, we do a deep dive into his newest album and accompanying book. The album is called 'Sound Bytes', and the book is called 'Curious Sounds'. Spoiler alert... Roger lets me play my favorite song from the new album! Both are available everywhere and RogerMooking.com. We even do a little talking about Roger being inducted into the Black BBQ Hall Of Fame! Don't miss Roger popping up everywhere on The Food Network, Food Network Canada, The Cooking Channel, and of course his newest show 'Breaking Bread with Roger Mooking' on Amazon Prime

Cindy MichTake a walk with me down Fascination Street as I get to know Cindy Mich. Cindy is an award-winning journalist, as well as a media personality, film maker, and the founder of the Art Is Alive Film Festival. In this episode, we chat about how she became a journalist and eventually a film maker and film festival founder. From growing up in Milwaukee, to becoming involved with television and film, Cindy's road has been fascinating to say the least. A few years ago, Cindy lost Michael. He was her best friend, her partner, her inspiration, and her lover. We spend a good bit of this episode getting to know Michael, and how impactful he was in her life. Cindy shares fun stories, and anecdotes about Michael, including how he inspired her to make everything from short films to TV series, to magazines, and more. We dive into her Art Is Alive magazine, her Art Is Alive Film Festival, and so much more. Cindy tells me about how she became a judge for the American Film Institute and spends some time talking about some upcoming projects that include medical misdiagnosis, (Hurt By healthcare), Saving Fancy Face, and Sonny & Trixie. This episode covers feelings of grief, loss, love, and healing. Be sure to follow Cindy Mich everywhere and keep your eyes and ears out for her upcoming projects.

Ryan CampbellTake a walk with me down Fascination Street as I get to know Ryan Campbell. In this episode, Ryan and I chat about how he met lifelong friend & fellow rapper Sam Lachow. Ryan explains how he grew up in 'The Game', and learned a trade from his dad.... sort of. Then we talk about how Ryan got into music; specifically rap music. He has been a featured artist on several albums from a multitude of different artists over the years. Ryan shares some experiences from growing up in and around Seattle, and how he got into the legal cannabis dispensary business. Sam Lachow & Ryan Campbell recently released a new album called Octopus. This marks Ryan's debut album, where he is not only a features artist. We discuss when this album was written, how long it took to get made, and why it took that long. We talk a little bit about Sam's most recent album The Left-Handed Bandit, which came out only a few months prior and heavily features Ryan. Both records were written at the same time and recorded fairly close together as well. Ryan's main business is a small chain of highly successful cannabis dispensaries in the Seattle area called The Bakeree. If you are in the area and partake; drop in and let them know you heard Ryan on Fascination Street Podcast!  Be sure to check out SamLachow.com to get Octopus, and all the associated merch!

Alex "AX" FosterTake a walk with me down Fascination Street as I get to know Alex Foster. AX Foster is a former Senior Assistant State's Attorney for the state of Maryland. He practiced as a prosecutor in that office for twenty years before starting his own firm and becoming a defense attorney. After 15 or so years in that role; AX decided the time was right to write his first legal thriller novel called 'Gavel to Gavel'. In this episode, we chat about his previous career as an actor for 7 years; where he had tons of roles on several different daytime soap operas, and why he decided to switch gears and become a lawyer. Then we get into some of his State's Attorney days. We talk about his prosecuting criminal law where the cases ranged from drugs, gangs, animal cruelty, and even murder. Of course I find out why he decided to change sides and become a defense lawyer. We talk about the differences in the field, as well as some of the hurdles to keeping a law practice going. Finally, AX tells me why he decided to write his first novel; and why Covid was the right time. We discuss the basic premise of the book, and how many books he thinks will be in The Seneca County Courthouse Series. Book 1 of the series (Gavel to Gavel) came out a couple of years ago, and book 2 (Double Blind) is out NOW. If you like John Grisham or James Patterson novels, than you are sure to love The Seneca County Courthouse Series of legal crime thrillers. Follow AX on social media, and check out his website AXFoster.com. Make sure you grab both books in the sale bundle on Amazon.

Will WesleyTake a walk with me down Fascination Street as I get to know country singer / songwriter Will Wesley. In this episode, we chat about his growing up in the Baton Rouge area, and what got him into music. Naturally we discuss the best Cajun food in his local area, and he tells me a couple of cool restaurants to eat at. Next, we move into how he gained his country & blues street cred, by competing in battle of the bands style pickin' contests. Will explains to me why he decided to cover the timeless gospel song 'Go Tell it on The Mountain'. and what makes his different than the rest. Then we talk about his new single '12 O'clock In Texas'. We spend most of the episode talking about the reasons he wrote this song, and the tragic loss of his brother. The conversation turns to sobriety, and addiction. I ask Will about some of the places he has played, and some of the places he will play on the current tour. Luckenbach! Finally, we discuss his recent experiences at The Josie Awards and working with some folk & bluegrass icons on a couple of musical collaborations. Make sure you check out 'Both Sides Of The Tracks', 'A New Kind of Blues', and 'Leah'. Do NOT miss him on tour in 2025! Check out WillWesleyMusic.com for tour dates and venues.

Happy New Year Streetwalkers! I put together a small trailer for the show to help steer your favorite people to the show. I know how hard it can be to get your friends to listen to your favorite podcast, so this is a short episode that explains what the show is, and highlights a few of my favorite clips. Pass it on, and thanks for being so awesome! Happy New Year! -Steve

Beyond B3Take a walk with me down Fascination Street as I get to know anonymous U.K. street artist Beyond B3. In this episode, we chat about why he decided to become a street artist, and where the pseudonym comes from. We discuss some of his influences like: Stic, Space Invader, and Banksy. Along the way, I find out that I may very well be the last person to find out that Stic and Banksy are no longer anonymous! This London area based graffiti artist has very intense messaging behind his artwork. B3 explains to me the meanings behind some of his pieces. From Everyday Robots & technology, to Attack Robots & War, to Pigeons with knives & Knife Crime; B3 clarifies it all. We talk about why he feels the need to address some of these subjects, and what he hopes to gain from doing so, While we are talking about his inspirations, I tell a story about the time I saw a Banksy in person. This leads to him explaining to me that both Stic & Banksy are known people! They are no longer anonymous! Anyway, make sure you check out Beyond B3 on Instagram so you can see some of his work. Unless you are located in the London area, in which case... SEND ME PICS! Beyond B3's work focuses on: Technology, War, Child Soldiers, Crime, Knife Crime, Hypnosis, and more!

Katie HerzogTake a walk with me down Fascination Street as I get to know Katie Herzog. Katie is a well-known and respected journalist who has written for publications including: The Stranger, The Atlantic, Reason, Medium, and more. She is also a co-host of the very popular podcast Blocked and Reported; with her friend and fellow journalist Jesse Singal. In this episode, Katie and I chat about where and how she grew up, and what informed her journalistic endeavors. I do grill Katie about some of the crazy stories from her past that I found. We touch briefly on her time working for NPR, and she enlightens me about The Internet Archive, and The Way Back Machine. Then we get into her podcast. Again, it's called Blocked and Reported and she tells me about why she started it, and why she is glad she didn't start it sooner. Finally, we dive into her new book. It doesn't have a name quite yet but should be released around October of 2025. This book chronicles her journey of drinking herself sober. You read that right. That's a very fascinating concept, and she tells me all about how she came to find this path, and why she felt the need to share her experience in the form of her very first book. Make sure you check out her podcast, it is a lot of fun, and be sure to stay tuned for her book around October of 2025.

Aaron PerrinoTake a walk with me down Fascination Street as I get to know Aaron Perrino. Aaron is the singer / songwriter most known for being the front man of The Sheila Divine. He is also part of the bands Dear Leader, and Aaron and The Lord. In this episode, we chat about how he got into music, and how winning a Sharper Image gift card on the radio, led to his band being signed by a record label. We talk about the tough road of being a touring artist, and some of the pitfalls that he didn't see coming. Since Aaron is an amazing songwriter, I pick his brain a bit on that, and then we talk about The Sheila Divine's more well known songs. Aaron spills the behind-the-scenes beans on touring with Morrissey and discusses why The Sheila Divine is so popular in Belgium. He shares the experience of having one of their songs used in a Cadillac commercial. Then we talk about his other bands Dear Leader as well as Aaron and The Lord. He lets me play my favorite Sheila Divine song, and then we talk about their new album I Am the Darkness. We Are the Light. I wouldn't be me if I didn't also ask him if I could plat a song from the new record! He graciously agrees to let me play Lilydale. Look for The Sheila Divine on Bandcamp and follow their upcoming tour dates on Instagram. Special thanks to John Graziano for making this interview happen. Thanks Graz!

Courtney GainsTake a walk with me down Fascination Street as l get to know actor & musician Courtney Gains in this episode, we chat about his growing up in some rough parts of Los Angeles, and why he decided to become an actor. We also talk about why he eventually moved to Savanah and embedded himself into the local music scene there. Naturally, l ask him about several of his films, including Back to the Future, Can't Buy Me Love, Colors, The Burbs, Queen Bees, and most notably, Children of the Corn. Courtney shares fun anecdotes and the reason for his longevity in show business. Then we discuss his music. Courtney has been a musician for just about as long as he has been an actor. He has released several albums and is part of a new project that came out December 6th. Marshes to Mountains is a compilation album with more than 100 songs. 100% of the proceeds from this album got to support those affected by the recent hurricane that impacted areas from Savanah to Asheville. The album can be found on Bandcamp or Fakefangs.com. Speaking of music, Courtney tells wonderful stories about working with Matt Sorum & Slash on one of Courtney's songs, plus he lets me play one! Finally, we talk about the new projects that he has coming out, including Cowboy Christmas, The Barn 3, and Infernal. Follow Courtney on social media, and be sure to check out his music everywhere you listen.

Ollee OwensTake a walk with me down Fascination Street as I get to know Ollee Owens. Ollee is a Canadian born and raised Country / Folk / Blues Southern Rock singer songwriter. In this episode, we chat about when she was first called upon by the music gods to be a performer. We discuss her writing and learning to play instruments at a very early age, and then why she decided to take a break from music for fifteen years. Ollee tells me what she was doing during that long hiatus, and what made her jump back into her passion. We talk a little about her debut record "Cannot Be Unheard' and how the energy of that release drove her to write and record her second album. Her sophomore album is titled 'Nowhere To Hide', and was released earlier this year. We break down some of the tracks from this record and she even let's me play my favorite track from it. We do a little bit of a deep dive on this particular song, and she tells me who the inspiration for it is. We do touch on the importance of her daughters seeing their mother lead by example in putting her passion on hold for a very good reason; but then going back to it when the time was right. This album was recorded in Nashville with some iconic Muscle Shoals musicians, and a legendary producer. Follow Ollee on Instagram, and check out her website for upcoming tour dates and new release info. 

Don McLean Returns.Take a walk with me down Fascination Street as I get to know even more about Don McLean. You know this legendary singer songwriter as the artist behind some of the most iconic songs of Americana music. In this episode, we chat about his new children's book 'Vincent: Starry children's Night'. This is the second children's book based on one of his classic songs. The first one was titled 'American Pie, The Fable By Don McLean'. There will be five books in total, so 3 more to come! The books are written by Judith A. Profer, illustrated by Yoko Matsuoka, and released by Meteor 17 Books. In this episode, we also discuss his newest studio album called 'American Boys'. The album came out earlier this year, and as Don tells it; this may be his last studio record. He explains why, and we do a bit of a dive into a couple of the songs on this record, plus he lets me play the title track! I ask Don what he is listening to these days, his thoughts on the current state of songwriting, and he fills us in on some upcoming projects. Make sure you check out these children's books, and Don's new record American Boys. Also, for more information about upcoming projects and tour dates; go to DonMcLean.com

Jeff SmithTake a walk with me down Fascination Street as I get to know Jeff Smith. Jeff is an icon in the local south Texas music scene. I caught up with Jeff in San Antonio, at his multi-use arts facility called The Corn Pound. In this episode, we get to know Jeff, and how he got into music. From his brother's involvement with The Krayolas, to his friendship with filmmaker Richard Linklater, we go everywhere in this episode. Jeff tells me about: Flagship Records, the Jett Bass Studio, High Voltage Music Program, Tex Pop In Exile Music Archive, and SausTex Records... all housed at The Corn Pound. We discuss some of the musical acts Jeff has worked with at SausTex including Pinata Protest, and DiNOLA. Then we get into how Jeff came to be part of Richard Linklater's Woodshock documentary short film, and why Jeff's scenes were cut from Linklater's early film Slacker. Jeff and I chat about how streaming services like Spotify have essentially gutted the already small income streams for the smaller, independent artists. Plus we talk about a recent collaboration between SausTex Records and Cacophony Clan Records on a super cool album to support some charities. Naturally Jeff and I talk about his band Hickoids, which has been around for decades, and he even lets me play one of their more recent songs! If you are even in or around San Antonio, you MUST check out The Corn Pound... and tell 'em you heard about them on Fascination Street Podcast.Special thanks to Peter Illing at Cacophony Clan Records for putting this together.

Spencer GarrettTake a walk with me down Fascination Street as I get to know Spencer Garrett. In this episode, I get to know the actor and ow he got to where he is. We chat about his family, and what made him decide to get into show business. We trade Hollywood stories; although he has many, MANY more! We take a little detour, when Spencer tells me what he was doing between college and acting; while working in Washington D.C. Next we Talk about how and why he studied with Sanford (Sandy) Meisner, and how Spencer came to be in several of Emilio Estevez's film projects. From behind the scenes on some of the greatest films ever made, to some fun down time with Mike Nichols, and Dustin Hoffman; Spencer is full of stories. I ask Spencer about his involvement in the super popular scripted fiction podcast called America 2.0, and he hints there may be more on the horizon. That leads into an unbelievable story about a group of character actors who meet every month for dinner and have a BLAST together. The CADS, is a group of like-minded actors including: Michael McKean, Lawrence Fishburne, Steven Weber, Titus Welliver, Kevin Pollak, Richard Kind, and so many more! I want to attend this dinner just once!!. Make sure you check out Spencer in the upcoming Korean spy thriller on Disney+ called Tempest (2025), and tell him you heard him on Fascination Street Podcast!

Take a walk with me down Fascination Street as I get to know Corinne Britti. Corinne is a comedian and an actress. Her recent projects include: For Sale, Condor's Nest, Take Care of Emily, and Saturday Night. In this episode, we chat about what made her want to be an actress, and why she felt NYU Tisch was the place to go. We discuss some of the things that you DON'T learn in acting school, and some of the things she learned at the Stone Street Conservatory. Corinne shares funny audition stories, and even a story about why there were bodies strewn all over her apartment during Covid! I ask her about the live comedy show / therapy session she co-created, and whether she plans to bring it back. She shares how she came to work on an ICE T music video, and we talk about some of her previous projects, and some of the weird ways that filmmakers find their talent. Naturally we touch on her new film SATURDAY NIGHT; which is in theaters NOW. In this film, Corinne plays real life comedian Valri Bromfield; and the film covers the back stage events in the hour or so leading up to the LIVE pilot of Saturday Night Live. Since this film is directed and co-written by Jason Reitman, naturally I ask what it was like to work with him, and I ask if she would ever work with him again. Her answer may surprise you..... but probably not! GO SEE SATURDAY NIGHT!!

A.J. LambertTake a walk with me down Fascination Street as I get to know A.J Lambert. AJ is a singer, a songwriter, and now a filmmaker. In this episode, we chat about her new short film THE JUNCTION. We discuss why she wrote it, why she made it, and why she decided to make it a short film. She also shares where it can be seen, and what she hopes to gain from this project. AJ is also the daughter of Hugh Lambert and Nancy Sinatra, as well as the grand daighter of Frank Sinatra. We talk about her Siruis XM show caleld Seriously Sinatra, and how that came about, plus, i ask her if there are "gate keepers" in the music business. Naturally we talk about her family; but she also discusses losing her father at a very young age, and some of the things she missed out on; as well as some of the ways that affected her. I ask AJ about her music, and she even lets me play one of her songs! Look for AJ everywhere that you listen to music, and wherever you see short films.

Take a walk with me down Fascination Street as I get to know Justin McKenzie. Justin is the founder of Das Greenhaus, a business incubator located in Boerne, Texas. In this episode, we discuss hios gorwing up in south Texas, Europe, and the midwest United States. We chat about his first hand accounts of transitioning entire production facilities from the midwest US, to mexico; and what it did to each of those local economies. Justin has a passion for econimic development and helping businesses get started. This is why he created Das Greenhaus, as well as the Boerne Kendall County Angel Network. We discuss a little about what each of those things are, and why these projecgts are so important to him. Along the way, we discuss NAFTA, ARPA, innovation, and the importance of leadership at the local level. Finally, we discuss Justin's podcast called The Building Texas Show, and ehy he decided to bring this show to life. You can follow him and his show, just about everywhere; including the video episodes on You Tube.

John Pirruccello Returns Again!Take a walk with me down Fascination Street as I get to know even more about John Pirruccello. In John's 3rd appearance on the show, we discuss The Mandela Effect; and some of the instances where it haunts John. Then we talk about the British playwright Patrick Marber, and some of his projects. John will be working with Partrick soon, and I pepper him with questions about it. Naturally, we talk about some of John's previous projects like: She Hulk & Twin Peaks, and john shares some behind the scenes stories involving David Lynch & David Mamet. We chat about Comicon and his experience there, and then I ask John questions about his life, some of his past experiences, and people from his past. He shares a story of trying to get in the movie The Godfather 3, and the time he spent with Father Guido Sarducci. Then we jump into some of his upcoming work. Season 3 of The Lincoln Lawyer comes out this week! John plays a prosecutor in most of the new season. He talks about playing ping pong on the set with the lead actor from the show, We do talk a bit about John's time on Mayans MC, and what a fun show that was to work on. Finally, we discuss John's role in The Sex Lives of College Girls, and his upcoming debut on The Simpsons! John and I close out the show talking about The Olympics, and the break dancing kerfuffle. 

Take a walk with me down Fascination Street as I get to know Willa Rudolph. Willa is a music publicist, visual artist, and the singer / songwriter of the Grunge Rock band November Girl. In this episode, we chat about growing up in New York and Los Angeles, and being around a family of musicians. Then we turn to what led to Willa becoming a publicist, and then making the switch to become a music publicist in particular. We discuss how she gained the confidence to front a band, and the hilarious way she found the other members of November Girl, We chat about the New York music scene and I find out what the hell "Shoe Gaze" music is. Naturally we talk about The Great American Mud Wrestling Show, and what that is, and whether or not we are still in a singles world; where bands don't feel the need to release albums. Of course Willa and I talk about November Girl's new EP called Heart Prayer, and she lets me play one of the tracks from it. 

Nils RasmussenTake a walk with me down Fascination Street as I get to know Canadian punk artist Nils Rasmussen. Nils is better known in some circles as the founder and singer for the band Uncle Outrage. In this episode, we chat about growing up in Canada, and what kinds of music influenced his musical tastes. Next we take a small detour and get into some of his science fiction writing, and why he does it. Naturally we discuss when he started Uncle Outrage, and why he felt compelled to do so. He shares some stories about some fans who have tattooed his lyrics or logo onto themselves, some fans who have named pets after him, and what its like to have his music covered by bands on the other side of the planet. Nils graciously lets me play what is arguably his most adored song Stay Magical, and we discuss the impact that song has had on some of his listeners. Finally we dive into his new record. Greatest Shit is the name of Uncle Outrage's new album (Cacophony Clan Records) This album marks the band's first ever vinyl offering, and is comprised of 19 of their greatest tracks. Two of the songs are new; but have found a place to nestle among these other favorites. Of course I asked him if I could play my favorite song from the album, and he lets me! While Nils is not really on social media, he does give his personal email address in the show, so reach out and let him know you heard him on Fascination Street!

Steve CooperTake a walk with me down Fascination Street as I get to know Steve Cooper. In this episode, we discuss his previous career as a stand up comedian, and how that turned him into an interviewer. We talk a bit about New Jersey, and where the best pizza is. I share my favorite story about Cherry HIl, NJ, and then we get a bit personal with some of Steve's previous health issues. Next we move onto how Steve became involved with the Big Daddy Graham Show, and how this eventually spun him off into his own show. Steve shares some fun and fascinating stories about being in and around Hollywood. Stories of his interactions with Gary Coleman, and even Jonathan Taylor Thomas. From Steve's days working at Planet Hollywood, to writing his own cookbook, and being a hand model for television; we cover all kinds of stuff. Finally, we chit chat about his podcast Cooper Talk. On his show, Steve interviews guests from music, comedy, and the acting industries, and has been doing it for well over a thousand episodes across nearly 15 years. We have a few guests in common, and bring up some specific examples of how interview style matters! Check Steve Cooper out on his podcast Cooper Talk, and his other show focusing on business The Coop Tank.

Ella EngstromTake a walk with me down Fascination Street as I get to know Ella Engstrom. Ella is an interior designer and organizational coach. Ella is also one of the three "fixers" on the television show The Gentle Art of Swedish Death Cleaning (Peacock / Bravo). In this episode, Ella tells me about growing up in Sweden, and working for 30 years as a Concept Developer and a Visual Merchandiser in the retail enviornment in Sweden. I ask her a ton of 'Dumb American' questions about Sweden and about visual merchandising. Next we get into how she came to be part of the television show, and how she gets along with the other two hosts, now that the show is between seasons. Ella explains 'fika' to me and a few other uniquely Swedish words and concepts. We talk about the taboo nature of talking about death in The U.S and in Sweden, and then I get super personal in my questions to her! Ella explains why she has a second home ont eh Mediteranian coast, and i pepper her with questions about how often she declutters and organizes her own home. Naturally we talk about the famous Delecarlian Horse and why it is known worldwide. Finally, we talk about what she learned during the show, and whether or not there will be another season. Ella does consultant wiork privately for organization and home logistics via her very own company; listen to find out how to contact her directly for help, no matter where you live!

Shelley RobertsonTake a walk with me down Fascination Street as I get to know Shelley Robertson. Shelley is an actress who you may have seen in: Chicago Med, General Hospital, NCIS, The Morning Show, The Rookie, This Is Us, Shameless, Timeless, Agents of Shield, and so much more. In this episode, we chat about why she became an actress, and some of the pitfalls and hurdles associated with that career. Shelley then shares some personal stories about managing finances as an actor, and juggling work while being a single mom. Next up, we give some love to mutual friend and previous guest D. Elliot Woods. We do discuss some of the industry changes that help single parents working on set, and I ask her why she still takes acting classes after having so much success. She shares with me some of the important lessons she has learned in various acting classes; including the most valuable lesson she learned from Eriq La Salle & Michael Beach; in their class. We touch a little bit on the book that she is in the process of writing, and why she thinks it is necessary. Be sure to check out Shelley's new film Cora Bora; available everywhere; and follow her on Instagram.

Alessandra WilliamsTake a walk with me down Fascination Street as I get to know actress Alessandra Williams. In this episode, we chat about her growing up in New Jersey, and where some of the best pizza is. Then we get into what made her want to become an actress in the first place. She explains how gymnastics and competitive cheerleading as a youth, helped her win some of her first auditions. Alessandra tells a wonderful story abut moonwalking into an audition for a Bollywood film; and how that turned out. Then we discuss some of her other passions. Alessandra not only acts, but paints, and writes children's books. Naturally, I ask about how and why she became a member of The Actors Studio, and she tells me how Al Pacino helped her get in. We cover a few of her film projects with Peter Berg, and she cracks me up with a tale about working with Gina Gershon. Alessandra shares a couple of stories from the set with Jim Caviezel, and then we talk about her new film Lissa's Trip; where she plays TWO roles. Lissa's Trip is available for free on Tubi TV. Check it out!

Emmett KaiTake a walk with me down Fascination Street as I get to know Emmett Kai. After growing up in a Sonoma County area farming community, Emmett decided to move across the country to New York City; to pursue a music career. In this episode, we chat about what it was like growing up in a rural community and trying to find his own specific musical identity. We cover Emmett's time as a DJ, and some of his other projects including DJ Blap Deli, Valley Girl Baby Powder, Young Maserati, and Unity Ambulet. We even discuss an unreleased project that hopefully will find its way to the public very soon. Finally, we talk about Emmett's newest album called Whale Milk. He shares some of the thoughts behind the meanings of some of the songs on this album, and he lets me play the first track from it. The song is called Holy Nitros, and is his favorite track from Whale Milk. Throughout our conversation, Emmett opens up about an artist's need to be seen and heard, gaining confidence, and his personal motto 'shut up and listen'. A few of the songs on the new album deal with the idea that our current society is in decline, so naturally we elaborate a bit on that as well. We also touch on his producing Jordana's upcoming album. Be sure to check our Emmett everywhere you get music, and his website for upcoming releases and possible live shows.

Tony Winters Returns!Take a walk with me down Fascination Street as I get to know Tony Winters EVEN MORE! In this episode, we catch up on how his industry has changed since covid, and we touch on some of the plays he as been involved in; as well as a play or two he may have coming up. We discuss some of his past films & television roles, and he lets a tale slip about a Christmas film he has written and is in the process of getting produced. 'Something For Santa' promises to bring back some of the MAGIC to Christmas movies. Then we dive right onto Tony's new film. The Supremes at Earl's All You Can Eat will be released on HULU, August 23rd (by Searchlight Pictures). It stars: Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor, Sanaa Lathan, Tati Gabrielle, Uzo Aduba, Mekhi Phifer, and Tony Winters (as Earl). As always; Tony brings the fun to Fascination Street. Check out the film on Hulu, and enjoy this conversation with Pretty Tony!***Full video interview available on the Fascination Street Podcast YouTube channel***

Eve SelisTake a walk with me down Fascination Street as I get to know Eve Selis. Known as 'The Queen of Roadhouse Rock"; I sat down with Eve to chat about her career, and her new album. In this episode, we discuss her early life as a young musician, and even how she got to have 'Eve Selis Day' in San Diego. She shares some pretty scary cancer stories, which is how she ended up in Nashville, and we discuss how art and trauma are tied to each other. I ask her about some of her previous projects, including Cactus Honey, King's Road, & 3 of Hearts. Finally, we get into her newest album called 'Dark Sky Blue'. Eve shares some of the traumatic events that influenced the songs on this album, and she even lets me play my favorite track from it. Dark Sky Blue is about unconditional love, loss, and the stages of grief. Eve explains all of that, and touches on some of those tragic events; and gives maybe the best answer ever to the age old question "Who is this record for?" Finally, she shares the story of a bald eagle landing on her head during a live performance, and her performing at Abbey Road Studios! Follow Eve everywhere on social media, and be inspired by the vulnerability of her music.

Charlotte KirkTake a walk with me as I get to know Charlotte Kirk. Born outside on London, she had dreams of becoming an actress. So, she decided to move to New Yor City. That lasted about 6 months. Then she made the move to Hollywood! In this episode we chat about when she knew she wanted to be an actress, and why she chose Los Angeles. Charlotte is open and answers my many questions about her Dyslexia and her Asperger's. We discuss some of the challenges and some of the benefits of these conditions as they relate to her chosen field. We touch briefly on her Covid pandemic television binging, and then get into her projects. In 2021 she released The Reckoning, shortly after, she released The Lair, and available everywhere Friday August 9th is her new film DUCHESS. We talk about how hard it was to get this film made, and how much fun it was to kick some ass on screen. We talk about her 2 production companies; and why she needs two separate ones. Then we get into her 2025 release calendar. Next year she has FOUR films slated for release. An erotic thriller called Compulsion, A re-imagining of sorts of the OJ Simpson & Nicole Brown-Simpson story called The Juice, an action film called Fight or Flight, and a spooky creepy movie called The Possession of Gladstone Manor. Look for all of those in the new year, and Charlotte has promised to return to the show when some of those start dropping. Naturally we talk about the importance of focus and determination in her industry. Wouldn't you know it.... I unearthed some of her short-lived music career! It was like pulling teeth to get her to say yes, but she DOES let me play one of these songs on the show. (Eyes In Love)Be sure to check out the full VIDEO episode on the Fascination Street Podcast YouTube channel.

S.M. Sykes (Scott)Take a walk with me down Fascination Street as I get to know S.M. Sykes. Scott Sykes is an author in the young adult (YA) fiction genre. In this episode, we chat about what his career was before he started writing, and what led him to eventually start writing his first novel. After serving in the U.S. Navy, and settling down in Delaware, Scot got inspired to pick up the pen. In addition to his THREE novel series (The Blue Series), Scott has written tons of novellas and short stories. You better believe I ask him to explain the difference to me! We discuss several different writing forums including Medium, and NaNoWriMo, and even some of his social media strategies. The Blue Series consists of: Eyes of Blue, A Dim Blue, and Loss of Blue. Scott thought the series was done there, but the story won't be laid to rest! Expect more books in the series from this tireless indy writer. You can catch Scott at various writing & horror conventions around the country, and don't forget to check out his social media. He posts some pretty fun and inventive videos on Instagram & TikTok.

Scott R. JonesTake a walk with me down Fascination Street as I get to know Scott R. Jones.Scott is a horror fiction author and "a genuine master of horror" (Ramsey Campbell). In this episode, we chat about some of his previous careers, and some of his writing all along the way; during those years. We discuss his creation of Martian Migraine Press, and what he wanted to do with it. We also delve into the gleeful Nihilism of the Lovecraftian Mythos, and the positively enlightening rabbit hole of Blacknosis. We move into gabbing about his first novel STONEFISH; where he tells me why he named it that, and what it is about (no spoilers). I let him know that he is my daughter's favorite author, and we touch just a bit on her boyfriend, Sasquatch. I ask him about his horror themed erotic fiction, released under a psuedonym; before finally, talking about his newest novel: DRILL.This new novel stems from his experience in & out of the Jehovah's Witness religeous grooup. With this novel, Scott reveals some of the more disturbing aspects of The J, and it's effect on him and members of his family. This book is predicted to make some serious waves in The JW community; so buckle up!His newest book (DRILL) is available NOW, everywhere you find books.Producer credit: David Himlie, with help from Sally Zabava

Ricky DicksonTake a walk with me down Fascination Street as I get to know Ricky Dickson. Having spent his entire working career at the Blue Bell Creameries; Ricky retired as CEO. In this episode, we chat about how he came to work for Blue Bell, a little bit of the history of the company, and how he rose to the rank of CEO. Along the way, we discuss some of the pitfalls he had to deal with. We also talk about some of the amazing successes, the effects of some natural disasters on the company as a whole, and some fun ice cream stories. I share the details of a trip to the Blue Bell headquarters that I took with my family some years back, and I pitch Ricky my own ice cream flavor! All of this was a blast. But the most important thing we discussed; was God's Plan for Ricky. All throughout the journey of his personal life and career. Ricky knew from an early age that God has something special in mind for him. We get into when he knew, and how hard it was to stay focused, and trust in God's Plan. Lucky for us, Ricky has revealed all of this and more in his new book 'One Scoop at a Time: Stories & Lessons From Fear to Faith'. This amazingly inspiring book comes out JULY 6th EVERYWHERE, as well as Amazon and OneScoopAtATime.com This really is an engrossing book, filled with laughter, heartache, hope, and faith. So get somewhere that sells Blue Bell ice cream and crack open this book!

Noah AsherTake a walk with me down Fascination Street as I get to know Noah Asher. Noah is a young man who grew up pretty involved in the church. Some things happened, and he ended up spending a little time in prison. While in prison, Noah found his life's purpose. He also wrote a book. In this episode, we discuss how he became involved with the church; even though most of his family was not. Then we dive into some of the events that led him down a path that would eventually lead to his incarceration. We jump around a bit and discuss everything from Zaxby's chicken to Chik-Fil-A, to Eeyore's birthday party, Lupis, and prison yoga. Noah also discusses his consultant company and shares some stories from being out in the field. Finally, we get into Noah's book. It's called 'Chaos: Overcoming the Overwhelming'. Noah tells me why he wrote it, who he wrote it for, and gives some book signing tips to new and upcoming authors. Anyone who has struggled with: religion, addiction, hope, illness, self-doubt, or adversity; should check out this book. It's a sort of road map to seeing things more clearly, and a guide to pulling yourself out of that mindset. Follow Noah on Instagram at TheNoahAsher, and drop him a line at thenoahasher.com

Jaurice SmileyTake a walk with me down Fascination Street as I get to know Jaurice Smiley. Jaurice had a pretty decent career as a professional gamer in the Smash Bros competitive gaming community. Afterwards, while in college, Jaurice decided to start writing young adult - science fiction novels. In this episode, we discuss his competitive gaming career, and what made him decide to become an author. We talk about his trips to several states; and how those trips inspired some of the locations for his writing. We also chat about his love of hip hop, specifically the unique sound of 'The Dirty South', and how this style of music helped inspire some of his writing. We do wander a bit while talking about his time in Texas, and his thoughts on some Texas delights like: Whataburger, Buc-ee's, and Trill Burger. Finally, we dive into Jaurice's writing. His first novel is called Taurian, and finds it's roots in an older video game called Metroid. He tells me what the book is about (NO SPOILERS), and some of the real life events that helped bring these characters to life. We then talk a little bit about his book of short stories called The Royal Gray Box. We touch on how he found his publisher, and what their relationship is, before discussing the artist who drew the covers of his books. Taurian, and The Royal Gray Box are both available on Amazon; as well as BlackGoldPublishing.com. Enjoy!