MyNY Podcast

Yesterday was tax day. A day most of us don't look forward to. But for those connected to Broadway's Peter & the Starcatcher, it was opening night. After a few weeks away, MyNYpod is back with Starcatcher actor Greg Hildreth to talk about the play, his near brush with swearing off NY, and much more!

She may be known for being the outspoken "bitch" on Lifetime's hit show Project Runway, but Ivy Higa is far from. Last week we sat down to talk about her experience on the show, the development of her brand, and a Hawaiian's view of NYC.

Meet the man behind the scarf! Best known for his iconic role as Mark in the Broadway musical & feature film RENT, Anthony Rapp is one of theatre's talented performers. In this candid conversation he talks about his career leading up to groundbreaking role, the devastating loss he faced during it & where life has brought him now. That and more in the 30th episode of MyNYpod.

Comic Pete Davidson finds some time between classes & stand-up gigs to talk about how he met Nick Cannon, juggling college & comedy, and why he just doesn't give a &*#$.

My good friend Chris Caron is one of those actors that despite being based in NYC, never seems to be around. Granted, it's always work related. He's constantly getting jobs out-of-town. But nonetheless, he's a tough man to get ahold of! Fortunately I was lucky enough during his most recent stint back in NYC to grab some time with him. Lookalikes, family, & a particularly horrendous NYC production are just a few of the topics we cover in this episode of MyNYpod!

Kate Burton may be best known for her role as "Meredith's Mom" on the hit TV show Grey's Anatomy, but that's only a sliver of her story. The daughter of a Hollywood legend & nightclub owner, & stepdaughter to a rockstar & pop icon, Kate's life in show business dates back to her birth. A longtime New Yorker now based in L.A., Kate took some time to sit with me during her most recent trip back to The Big Apple.

Episode 26 marks halfway through my goal of producing this podcast every week for a year, and if it wasn't for Brendan, it never would've happened. In this landmark episode, I finally introduce Brendan to our audience via an in-depth recap of Super Bowl 46 with my die-hard Patriots friend. An episode for the sports fans out there!

From Jersey to Australia to NYC, Gretchen Cello has had an interesting journey thus far. A creative writer currently hell-bent on finishing her novel, Gretchen found some time to talk about her unorthodox path to NYC & what she hopes to accomplish here in episode 25 of The MyNY Podcast.

Originally from outside Dallas, Texas, the Craig brothers are Brooklyn-based filmmakers that command respect. How's their resume so impressive at such a young age? What're they doing differently than other aspiring filmmakers? What's down the pike for these impressive artists? Find out on MyNYpod Ep. 24. Featuring guest co-host Jordan Drake.

Billy DiMichele works as VP of Corporate Production and Creative Services at one of the largest publishing companies in the world, Scholastic. From inside their incredible headquarters in SoHo, Billy & I talk about Scholastic, his journey, and life at large in NYC. That and the usual, right here on MyNY!

Before her evening performance, CLOSE UP SPACE cast member Jessica DiGiovanni sat down with me for a chat. We talk NY actor life & how her grind has led to working alongside all-star David Hyde Pierce. That, some Tebow Time, and a fair amount of sound effects on MyNYpod!

Robert Ray Richardson, a native of the Bronx, joined the Marine Corps after high school. When he returned from his time with the USMC he got mixed up with "the wrong crowd" which eventually lead to him having to flee NY. Fast forward & Robert is an empathetic, driven, & passionate social worker. What happened? Find out here on Episode 21 on The MyNY Podcast.

Merry Christmas MyNYers! For those of you that have ever had to work on a holiday, I'm sure you'll appreciate episode 20. I spent some time with each of my 5 coworkers tonight to break away from our job obligations & share an enjoyable holiday memory. I also spend some time plugging my Follow for Funds campaign benefitting The Double H Ranch. All that & a little bit of nonsense in MyNYpod Ep. 20! Our Christmas Special!

This one is a doozy! In MyNYpod Ep. 19 I rant about the recent outbreak of child abuse in athletics, plug a new fundraising campaign I've started, & pay tribute to one of the most beautiful people I ever met, my grandmother. Oh, and I sit down with fashion industry powerhouse Nitya Chandra for a conversation that hits plenty of marks. All that and your typical nonsense on MyNYpod Ep. 19. Don’t forget, support MyNYpod.com by clicking that purple SUBSCRIBE button up there! It’s completely free & will deliver our latest episode directly to your iTunes account every Monday morning! Don’t forget, support MyNYpod.com by clicking that purple SUBSCRIBE button up there! It’s completely free & will deliver our latest episode directly to your iTunes account every Monday morning!

Megan Sass is a young, brash, hilarious "Gin-Jew" beginning her comedy career in NYC. In the 18th episode of MyNY, we get dangerously involved in Megan's love life, go thru the oddities of online dating, & discuss the merit of using "offensive" words in the proper context. All that plus rants, listener mail, a blog recap & much more nonsense here on MyNYpod Ep. 18. Don't forget, if you like what you hear SUBSCRIBE to us via iTunes, or by clicking the SUBSCRIBE button on the right-hand side of mynypod.com

It's a movement that's gained international attention. Occupy Wall Street started on 9/17/2011 as a protest against social injustice, economic inequality, corporate greed, and banking frauds just to name a few of the abuses that have spawned this passionate protest. Mike McGrath & Tom Hagan are residents of Bayside, Queens that have been activists since the start. Today they share some of OWS' complaints & describe the ever-changing scene of Zuccotti Park & the movement at large. But OWS isn't the the only occupation featured on today's episode. Having been inspired by you listeners, I decide to start my own movement, & I need your help. Listen!

From inside a beautiful new mid-town high-rise, our 16th episode features Michigan native, recent graduate, & broadcast media professional Kayla LaFata. We talk about how her acclimation to New York evolved into her NYC blog, bash one of NY's most disappointing eateries, & discuss how she'd prevail in a zombie apocalypse. And for the cherry on top we're joined by her boyfriend, San Fran native Kevin Weatherman who shows us that he too can command the mic.

This week's guest wanted to maintain a certain level of anonymity, so we'll call him Alonzo. Alonzo, a New York Law Enforcement agent, sits down with me to talk women, bodybuilding, law enforcement and more!

Coming out of a wild weekend in Chicago, I share my experience at the National Hemophilia Foundation's annual conference & talk about the success of the event I was flown in to host. I share the story of my surprisingly cool flight to Chicago, oh, and I leave some time at the end for a throwback conversation with tech nerd, friend, and rising star of the hemophilia community, Michael Schultz.

In her own words (or those of her publicist, how do I know!?), Little Annie is "an adventuress, chanteuse/lyricist, ordained minister, high school dropout, juvenile delinquent, self-taught painter, multi-media artist and post modern cabaret queen with a long, illustrious and eclectic recording career who has defied categorization, limitation, restrictions and sometimes the law." Listen to us talk drugs, death, crime, beauty, art, integrity, kidnapping, and much more!

Brooklyn based designer extraordinaire Valerie Skakun and I talk about concept art and design initiatives (and yes, I'm lost through most of this talk!). She also introduces me to a profession I'd never heard of: vibraphonist. I know! Take a listen!

Nate and I recently sat down in his beautiful Harlem apartment to talk music, ambitions, and high school wrestling. Nate lays out his unique musical journey and shares a story of good ole NYC living up to the adage of "Only in NY." Make sure to listen thru to the end to hear NateKid's song Harness Melodies. Free music, how can you say no!?

In our first episode of double digit land, I sit down with the founder of Creative Sitters, Renee Pena. Renee recaps how her babysitting company came to be, joins me in the occasional non-sequitur, and goes so far as to betray my confidence! Before getting into the interview, I take the liberty of expressing frustrations I have over the current climate surrounding the poker world. Yes, for the first time I go into my thoughts on poker here on MyNY. Why now? Well, let's just say shotguns can inspire one to speak up...

Better late than never! Even (fake) computer death can't keep MyNY down! In this belated episode, I sit down with my best friend Michael Peterson. He shares what his time in NYC has been like as he prepares to say goodbye. (Recorded August, 2011)

Seth and I sit down for an interview that epitomizes the free-flowing conversation that MyNY strives to capture. In this exploration on tangents, we touch upon our conflicting opinions of Delaware, the 90s sitcom The Dinosaurs, and all sorts of other relevant topics! Take a listen!

Last week I checked out a local steam punk bar and bubbling hot spot called The Way Station. I sat down with owner Anders Heidel as well as the members of Chicken Barn Heroes before their bi-weekly set.

Fellow Boston University grad Lenny Leibowitz and I sit down in his Upper West Side Apartment/Office/Boarding Home to talk about his path to starting an Off-Broadway theatre company, his insatiable appetite for movies, and even a few regrets from along the way. All that and more are just a click away!

Marc Spitz, author of Jagger: Rebel, Rock Star, Rambler, Rogue, sits down with me to discuss his perspective on the industry of music journalism, the ever-changing climate of the New York arts scene, and his reflections on September 11th.

WFAN host and winner of the 2011 Fantasy Phenom competition John Jastremski sits down with me to talk about his love of sports talk radio and his path to winning his job on 660am.

WFAN host John Jastremski gives his takes on the Yankees post-season roster, breaks down the Jets & Giants, and speculates on when we might see NBA basketball again.

In our third MyNY episode, I chat with long time resident of the Lower East Side and former Executive Director of the Lower East Side Harm Reduction Center, Raquel Algarin. We focus this conversation on Raquel's relationship with her brother, the impact he had on her life, and the legacy his story left behind.

In the second episode of MyNY, I sit down with stage and screen writer Martin Casella. We talk about his working under Steven Spielberg and the near-death experience he had during that time. We also trek through the frustrating life that is writing for Hollywood and consider some topical and touching social matters.

For those with commitment issues, here's a taste of what "going steady" gets you in this episode of MyNY, hosted by Patrick James Lynch.

Our first episode! On a crappy Sunday morning, I took a drive out to Hempstead, Long Island to sit down with my friend Lancelot. From growing up in "the hood," to surviving a fatal plane crash, to making an unheard of jump from professional athletics to professional dance, we cover a lot of ground in our first MyNY conversation.