Socially Awkward with Evan Wecksell

Evan returns from his unintentional hiatus to interview another fellow Facebook friend. This time it's Jessica Petraccione and we're celebrating the 40th anniversary of Bon Jovi. Evan and Jessica discuss favorite Jovi memories and then go rapid fire through every Bon Jovi album. What were their favorite tracks on each album? Which tracks were underappreciated? […] The post Bon Jovi's 40th Anniversary w/ Jessica Petraccione – Ep148 first appeared on Evan Wecksell.

Dr. Shannon Kroner has been working with special needs families since 2001. She is also the Executive Director of Freedom Of Religion – United Solutions (FOR-US), building an interfaith coalition of religious leaders who have united to protect the religious freedom of vaccine choice, helping thousands of Americans obtain religious vaccine exemptions for work and […] The post Shannon Kroner – Ep147 first appeared on Evan Wecksell.

Sarah Nicole Nadler is a money coach for entrepreneurs as a licensed financial advisor, author and philanthropist. So as Socially Awkward’s first entrepreneur-based Facebook friend, Evan gets Sarah to break down how to approach money. Where does she put her extra money? How do millionaires still end up short on cash? Later, Sarah talks about […] The post Sarah Nicole Nadler (Money Coach for Entrepreneurs) – Ep146 first appeared on Evan Wecksell.

Nicola Cheung met Evan initially when he performed at Landmark College in Vermont back in 2012. Since then Nicola went back to China through the pandemic, but recently returned to the United States living in Connecticut. What made her come back? How is she getting around without knowing how to drive? Then later, Evan delves […] The post Nicola Cheung and the Paranormal – Ep145 first appeared on Evan Wecksell.

It’s been roughly a month since Wheel of Fortune’s WWE Week and Evan is talking to the champion contestant Grant Salzano. Grant won over $50,000 in cash and WWE-themed prizes over two shows in addition to the grand prize of tickets to Wrestlemania, Smackdown, the Hall of Fame and a Front-Row VIP experience for Monday […] The post WWE Wheel of Fortune Champion Grant Salzano – Ep 144 appeared first on Evan Wecksell.

It’s Wheel of Fortune’s WWE Week and Evan has Wheel contestants on to recap and preview their appearances. Tracina Jones from Tampa partnered with Drew McIntyre. What did they talk about? How has her week been since going viral due to her incorrect ball-centric guess. Tracina is joining by Ben Clark who is about to […] The post Wheelmania: Tracina Jones & Ben Clark – Ep143 appeared first on Evan Wecksell.

Palmer Davis dances hard, kicks high and can pull off a one-woman show. She also recently defeated breast cancer and was sharing her journey over social media. Hear how she emerged victorious and what she creatively has in store for the world. For more on Palmer, learn about The Palmer Dance Experience at palmerdance.com. In […] The post Palmer Davis – Ep142 appeared first on Evan Wecksell.

In their first ever conversation, Evan interviews Matt Duron, someone he hoped would get him a gig at his college (Thiel) back in 2007. Unfortunately, 15 years later, Evan has still not played Thiel but he is still friends with Matt. Hear about Matt’s writing exploits, potential books in the works and his reaction to […] The post Matt Duron – Ep141 appeared first on Evan Wecksell.

Chris Daniel is running for Harris County District Clerk in Texas. Actually, re-running. Hear what his first stint was like, what a district clerk actually does and how people have been telling him how much they miss his district clerk-ness. And did you know more people have voted for Chris than for the governor of […] The post Chris Daniel – Ep140 appeared first on Evan Wecksell.

Kristina Irwin is running for State Senator in California’s District 24, a premiere zone that includes such communities at Santa Monica, Malibu, West Hollywood and many others. After setting an LA County record with over 6,200 write-in votes in the primary, this a mother of three, immigrant, small business owner and child advocate is out […] The post Kristina Irwin – Ep139 appeared first on Evan Wecksell.

Ernie Elwood (aka Elijah Beers) and Evan first met when Evan performed for Theta Chi Fraternity at Central Missouri State several years ago. But now it is Ernie who has taken the stage as an independent wrestler. What is his gimmick? Why the name Ernie Elwood? Where does he see himself ending up professionally? We […] The post Ernie Elwood – Ep138 appeared first on Evan Wecksell.

Ryan Kugler is a jack-of-all-trades, and perhaps even the director of Creed and the new Space Jam. (Oh that’s Ryan Coogler.) But really, hear about how this Ryan became a pro in VHS distribution but then reinvented himself in the liquidation business. He also has a side hustle where he puts on a variety of […] The post Ryan Kugler – Ep137 appeared first on Evan Wecksell.

Evan returns with a double episode! First, Actress Elisabeth Donaldson talks about being a full-time artist in Nashville, Tennessee and how it’s different from being an actress in LA. (3:50) Plus the story of how she got Evan and his wife into SAG at the same time, going Fi-Core, navigating the pandemic and whether she’s […] The post DOUBLE EPISODE: Actress Elisabeth Donaldson, National Libertarian Chair Angela McArdle – Ep136 appeared first on Evan Wecksell.

Lori Broslovsky is a Jersey girl who stops by to talk about her favorite band: Bon Jovi. Lori and Evan do a deep dive into everything Bon Jovi! They recap the reaction to their latest tour, lament the continued absence of Richie Sambora, and give their favorite non-mainstream Bon Jovi songs. Plus, they share their […] The post Talking Bon Jovi with Lori Broslovsky – Ep135 appeared first on Evan Wecksell.

Jim Meskimen is a talented mix of acting, voiceovers, impressions and general artistry. He is also approaching 300 credits on IMDB thanks to appearances on The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, Brooklyn Nine-Nine, Gas Lit, Apollo 13 and such commercials as Geico and KFC! Jim is now sharing his wealth of knowledge with a new online […] The post Actor Jim Meskimen – Ep134 appeared first on Evan Wecksell.

Tiffany Meldal-Johnsen, recently relocated to Vashon Island in Washington State, joins Evan to discuss everything TV and movies from past to present. Tiffany and Evan rattle through The Gary Shandling Show, Golden Girls, Seinfeld, Friends, Ted Lasso, Curb Your Enthusiasm and so much more. Which shows were Tiffany’s favorites? Which were she never a fan […] The post Tiffany Meldal-Johnsen – Ep133 appeared first on Evan Wecksell.

Mark Meuser is a constitutional law attorney and native Californian who is running for US Senate in 2022. How is the campaign trail? Why did he chose the US Senate race? What are his thoughts on election integrity? All this and even some fitness talk. And don't worry, Evan was still awkward. Jump to your […] The post US Senate Candidate Mark Meuser – Ep 132 appeared first on Evan Wecksell.

Eric James Madden is a fellow Theta Chi who went to and advises the chapter at Ball State University… while also working full-time for a DIFFERENT fraternity! Is he a mole? A double-agent? One thing he definitely is is a graphic design and media wizard. Hear about those endeavors plus issues facing fraternities and sororities […] The post Eric James Madden – Ep131 appeared first on Evan Wecksell.

Max Bonilla is a 17-year-old activist from Sacramento. Max talks about how the pandemic made him more aware of California state laws and the legislature in general. Although not old enough to vote or run for office, Max shares his insight on questionable laws the state has passed or is planning to pass. Then he […] The post Max Bonilla – Ep130 appeared first on Evan Wecksell.

Judea Johnson is a renaissance woman that advocates for medical freedom and loves to travel! Recently relocated from California to Florida, Judea explains her move, how natural childbirth led her to the world of v—ines, and is she an anti-vaxxer? Judea answers and weighs in on lockdowns, mandates and whether other members of the black […] The post Judea Johnson – Ep129 appeared first on Evan Wecksell.

Brandon Hurley is an American Youtuber who to his Vietnamese audience is known as Phuc Map. Hear how Brandon went from America to Vietnam and grew to be a well-known TV personality. Also, hear all the things Brandon can teach, plus Vietnam’s dealings with the pandemic. Brandon is also a fellow Theta Chi brother who […] The post Brandon Hurley aka Phuc Map – Ep128 appeared first on Evan Wecksell.

Jeff Shipley is a state representative from Iowa, and somehow he's Evan's Facebook friend. Jeff discusses his nihilistic political origins, his experience as a stand-up comedian, selling solar panels and sauerkraut before holding office, and an update on Iowa in the era of Covid. Jeff then goes into how he beat out Phil Miller for […] The post Iowa Representative Jeff Shipley – Ep127 appeared first on Evan Wecksell.

The title is not a typo:  In a Socially Awkward first (and probably last), Evan interviews two Facebook friends with the same name!! Welcome Kerri-Ann Wallace & Kerri-Ann Wallace! What are each of their connections to Beverly Hills 90210? Which Kerri-Ann Wallace is from Riverdale? (And does she watch Riverdale?) Which Kerri-Ann is on sabbatical? […] The post Kerri-Ann Wallace & Kerri-Ann Wallace – Ep126 appeared first on Evan Wecksell.

Jessica Amal is an actress, writer and producer who actually casted Evan in his first student film when he moved to LA! After reminiscing about the film, they then get into Jessica’s public battle with lung cancer and how she’s been able to stay strong. She also talks about how she met her husband and […] The post Jessica Amal – Ep125 appeared first on Evan Wecksell.

Kristi Slager initially met Evan at Beverly Hills Playhouse and over a decade later she’s on Socially Awkward! Did you know at Notre Dame that Joe Montana was the backup to her dad!? Kristi takes us from driving cross-country to Los Angeles to navigating teaching during the pandemic. Plus, she and Evan discuss TV shows […] The post Kristi Slager Salerno – Ep124 appeared first on Evan Wecksell.

Owen Alabado is an actor, comedian, singer, dancer, martial artist – in other words, a Renaissance man. Hear how this Wisconsin native was drawn to theater, moved to Los Angeles and is currently kicking butt back in Wisconsin. He also talks about his comedy and he and Evan retrace their steps on how they met. […] The post Owen Alabado + Beckett Sage’s Wrestlemania 37 Predictions – Ep123 appeared first on Evan Wecksell.

Orrin Heatlie is the lead proponent of RecallGavin2020​ and, thanks to over 2,000,000 Californians, he is about to be part of only the second recall initiative to qualify in the history of California. How did this get done? Who is the primary driving force behind the recall? As Gavin Newsom claims, is this a “republican […] The post Orrin Heatlie of RecallGavin2020 – Ep122 appeared first on Evan Wecksell.

Taryn Kristal is the founder of The Resolvancy – a divorce strategy and coaching firm, but to Evan she is the girl into whose locker he slipped a Peanuts card in the sixth grade. Now 3o years later, Evan gets her and her boyfriend at the time’s reaction. Taryn also discusses the power of music, […] The post Taryn Kristal – Ep121 appeared first on Evan Wecksell.

Cooper Shaw is an actress in SAG/AFTRA and Actors Equity who first met Evan when he edited her first demo reel in Brooklyn. Now about a decade later they have their first conversation as Cooper has too migrated to Los Angeles. How has she dealt with life in LA during Covid? She talks all about […] The post Cooper Shaw – Ep120 appeared first on Evan Wecksell.

Ruvane aka Ruvane Kurland is a full-time musician who has traveled the majority of the country until Covid. In their first conversation, Ruvane and Evan discuss how they became Facebook friends, performing pre and post-Covid and the wonderful world of acoustic rock and audio looping. Ruvane also talks life in Ohio, favorite musicians and all […] The post Ruvane – Ep119 appeared first on Evan Wecksell.

Andrew Mikkelson plans to leave Facebook at the end of the month so Evan interviews his fellow Theta Chi Fraternity brother before his departure. Andrew talks about life in college at NJIT, how he found his way to the Navy and then to being a field service electrician who one night was needed to turn […] The post Andrew Mikkelson – Ep118 appeared first on Evan Wecksell.

Kevin Kiley was reelected to the State Assembly with the highest vote total for a Republican in California history. He is also the only 100 percent citizen-backed California Legislator, refusing all funding from the Special Interests that spent millions electing Gavin Newsom. After defeating the CA governor in court in October to stymie his one-man […] The post Assemblyman Kevin Kiley – Ep117 appeared first on Evan Wecksell.

Erica Sandberg is a standout freelance writer in San Francisco who contributes to 12-15 publications at a time! Having met Evan when she interviewed him during his political run, Erica reconnects to discuss the state of California, the job-killing law AB 5 and an open letter she wrote to San Francisco restaurants to whom Mayor […] The post Erica Sandberg – Ep116 appeared first on Evan Wecksell.

Anthony Zenkus is a tireless advocate for the welfare of children, families and communities. Working in the field of family violence, relationship violence, sexual assault and child poverty, he has trained thousands of professionals and community members across the country on how to better recognize, prevent and respond to abuse and neglect. Some of that […] The post Anthony Zenkus – Ep115 appeared first on Evan Wecksell.

Michaele Walker is the President of Lawful America, a group educates and empowers the Tribes and people via the Constitution and various human rights statutes. Her group advocates against child trafficking and other injustices! Her efforts have caused such a stir that she lives most of her life off the grid, has not seen her […] The post Michaele Walker – Ep114 appeared first on Evan Wecksell.

Evan talks with Mike Netter, one of the lead organizers of RecallGavin2020.com and one of his newest Facebook friends. Who is the primary driving force behind this recall? What does Gavin Newsom have in common with Gray Davis, who was recalled in 2003 (and led to Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger)? How does a recall work? Is […] The post Mike Netter of RecallGavin2020.com – Ep113 appeared first on Evan Wecksell.

Angie Brice and Evan overlapped at Tufts University for two years, never met, yet somehow they’re Facebook friends. In their first conversation ever, hear them try to solve that mystery and then discuss her post-Tufts travels, her Hairoine product line and how she ended up working at the United Nations in Switzerland! Also, Angie goes […] The post Angie Brice – Ep112 appeared first on Evan Wecksell.

Following Evan’s last episode, which created over 360 comments on a Theta Chi Facebook group thread, another Theta Chi and Evan’s newest Facebook friend, Joey Longo, wanted to come on to react to that thread and so much more. Joey and Evan cover how they may or may not have met, current events, Covid, the […] The post Joey Longo – Ep111 appeared first on Evan Wecksell.

Alex Jimenez is the Director of Design at Prager University, but he and Evan first met at UCLA when Alex hired Evan to perform at a Theta Chi philanthropy event. Now newly married and fully adulting, Alex breaks down the rise in censorship of conservative viewpoints on social media and his pursuit of evolving ‘conservation […] The post Alex Jimenez – Ep110 appeared first on Evan Wecksell.

Radio J met Evan back on Long Island when they were both doing the local open mics. With a background in radio, Radio J is now in Florida networking with local acts and putting out his own podcast: Going Boom. Radio J and Evan talk about their Long Island days and throw in some wrestling […] The post Radio J – Ep109 appeared first on Evan Wecksell.

Ethan Ullman is a comedian and comedy show producer. Speaking for the first time since they joined forces at a comedy show at RPI (Troy, NY), Ethan tells Evan about his new Weird Al Yankovic podcast, aptly titled Dave & Ethan’s 2000″ Weird Al Podcast. Evan also reveals playing a fundraiser to raise money for […] The post Ethan Ullman – Ep108 appeared first on Evan Wecksell.

Spike Cohen is Evan’s newest Facebook friend, but just as important he is the Libertarian Party’s candidate for Vice President of the United States of America. How did the process work? Where does he stand on the critical issues facing America in this election year? Answering questions from the “Jo Jorgensen/Spike Cohen For President/VP 2020” […] The post VP Candidate Spike Cohen (L) – Ep107 appeared first on Evan Wecksell.

Jill Noelle and Evan have their first extended conversion as they try to pinpoint how they became Facebook friends. Once they do, they dig into life in California, working during the Coronavirus, best SNL skits, and Evan’s new ‘clothing line’ The Covid Collection, of which Jill is a frequent customer. Then Jill offers an adept […] The post Jill Noelle – Ep106 appeared first on Evan Wecksell.

Vote for (Mark) Pedro! He’s not running for office, but he has seen Napoleon Dynamite several times. Evan interviews one of his former interns who happens to be in Canada. How has Canada been during Covid-19? Mark fills you in, plus some other chit-chat. SUBSCRIBE to SOCIALLY AWKWARD, and support the podcast for as little as […] The post Mark Pedro – Ep105 appeared first on Evan Wecksell.

Princess Serrano met Evan one time back in 2012 and that was good enough to be Facebook friends. In their first conversation ever, Princess and Evan break down her experiences at a predominantly white college in West Virginia, George Floyd, the protests, Black Lives Matter, Covid-19 and being black in America. A rare, in-depth discussion […] The post Princess Serrano – Ep104 appeared first on Evan Wecksell.

Alan Zeitlin is a journalist and former school teacher based in New York City. He gives Evan an inside look at how NYC has been coping with Covid-19 and the road back for sports to resume. Alan also shares his battle with Complex Compartment Pain Syndrome and Cellulitis. SUBSCRIBE to SOCIALLY AWKWARD, and support the podcast […] The post Alan Zeitlin – Ep103 appeared first on Evan Wecksell.

In their first ever conversation, Evan checks in with Karen Lavender. Karen (pronounced ‘Kaar-in’) talks about growing up in South Africa, moving to Los Angeles and discovering her love of documentaries  and producing commercials. She also breaks down one of her favorite movies, District 9. Evan and Karen then delve into the current “Karen” phenomenon […] The post Karen Lavender – Ep102 appeared first on Evan Wecksell.

In their first ever conversation, despite being Facebook friends for the past 13 years, Evan welcomes fellow Theta Chi Fraternity brother and solar installation specialist Nick Goad. As both are in California, Evan and Nick break down California’s ‘response’ to Covid-19. Nick also recalls being a founding member of his chapter at Northern Arizona University […] The post Nickolas Goad – Ep101 appeared first on Evan Wecksell.

In this milestone episode 100, Evan welcomes tv/radio host and activist Kerri Kasem. Kerri gives her perspective on Covid-19, especially regarding the elderly. She also recounts not seeing her father, radio legend Casey Kasem, towards the end of his life, due to archaic family visitation laws. Hear how her Kasem Cares Foundation righted the wrong […] The post Kerri Kasem – Ep100 appeared first on Evan Wecksell.

Neil Kelly attended Mount St Joseph's and hired Evan to play their spring concert. Here they reunite to talk politics, Covid-19 and Wrestlemania 36! The post Neil Kelly – Ep099 appeared first on Evan Wecksell.

As Super Tuesday nears, Evan brings on Troy Slaten, an attorney (and alum of Fox’s “Parker Lewis Can’t Lose”) who is running for Judge in Los Angeles County, Seat #145. Hear why he is willing to take a pay cut to better serve his community, why he is the superior choice and what qualities he […] The post Troy Slaten for Judge (+ Bailee Wenckus) – Ep098 appeared first on Evan Wecksell.