Storybeat with Steve Cuden

Christian Schu is a dedicated filmmaker who sees filmmaking and advertising as storytelling arts. Since becoming a commercial filmmaker in 2015, he's focused on creating narratives that deeply engage viewers through emotion.Christian's career includes working in virtual studios, sporting events, and collaborations with popular German business speakers. Since 2019, Christian has been producing visually stunning content for top hi-fi brands including Focal Naim, Bowers & Wilkins, and Bang & Olufsen. His passion for storytelling began with childhood Lego play, now translating into impactful, award-winning cinematic work.www.christian-schu.com

Kiesha Lalama is an internationally recognized dancer, choreographer, and teacher who has created works for stage, film and TV. She is currently Point Park University's interim Dean of Theatre, Film and Animation, and the Executive Producer of the Pittsburgh Playhouse. Kiesha co-founded and has choreographed 15 years of Broadway's the Jimmy Awards, which has reached over 120,000 students annually. She choreographed the feature films, “The Perks of Being a Wallflower,” and “Sorority Row,” the documentary series “Broadway or Bust” for PBS, and two critically acclaimed TV series, “Outsiders” and “American Rust”. Her international concert dance works continue to be performed throughout Europe and Asia, including: Shed, Catapult, Alegria, Kinex, Aftermath, Wish, Jolt, Unsung Moment, and Vicious Cycle. She's also created three critically acclaimed full-length dance theater productions including The Bench: Journey into Love, HeartShakes, and Bound in Before.Kiesha's regional theater highlights include: All Shook Up at North Shore Music Theatre, Jesus Christ Superstar at Kansas City Starlight Theatre, Into the Woods at the Arsht Center, and for the Pittsburgh CLO, Judge Jackie Justice, Ruthless! The Musical, First Date and the Gene Kelly Awards.For the record, Kiesha and I have known one another for a number of years as we were both faculty members in the Conservatory of Performing Arts at Point Park.https://kieshalalama.com/https://www.pointpark.edu/academics/schools/copa/copadeptsmajors/dance/faculty/kieshalalama

Bestselling historical fiction author Sharon Virts is a successful entrepreneur and visionary who, after more than twenty-five years in business, followed her passion for storytelling. She's received numerous accolades for her commitment to historic preservation, earning national recognition for both her business achievements and philanthropic endeavors.Beyond her business acumen, Sharon is a gifted visual artist, intertwining her artistic expression with extraordinary storytelling to breathe life into intricate characters and vivid settings that captivate the heart and ignite the imagination. She has authored two bestselling novels, Masque of Honor and Veil of Doubt. Sharon's latest book, The Grays of Truth, was recently published. I've read The Grays of Truth and can tell you I was immediately swept up by the suspenseful historical murder mystery set in 1867 antebellum Baltimore, where some of the city's elite suffer mysterious deaths amidst a backdrop of scandal. If you like historical thrillers, I highly urge you to check out The Grays of Truth.www.sharonvirts.com Bookclub: #ReadWithSharon FB: SharonVirtsBooks IG: @sharonvirtsbooks GoodReads: Sharon Virts 

Drew Brody is an award-winning writer and producer whose films, web series, stage plays, and other live events in Los Angeles and New York have featured Ed Harris, Amy Madigan, Jenny O'Hara, Bill Pullman, Sara Rue, Martin Sheen, James Gammon, and French Stewart, among many others. Drew has produced dozens of world premieres for the stage including two plays by Pulitzer Prize winning playwrights: It Wasn't Proust by Sam Shepard, and Tight Pants by Beth Henley. Drew won back-to-back “Excellence in Producing” awards at the New York International Fringe Festival, where his production of Fluffy Bunnies in a Field of Daisies also earned an award for Best Ensemble and was named Best of Fringe.Among the movies Drew has produced is the horror film, Desert of Blood. I've seen Desert of Blood and can tell you it's a sexy, noirish, fun vampire thriller that isn't for the faint of heart.In addition to writing and producing, Drew has worked as a story consultant and coach to Hollywood writers for more than two decades. For six years, he was a thesis advisor for MA students in the Humanities department at Mount Saint Mary's University in L.A., where he taught classes in screenwriting and playwriting and helped develop and launch the university's MFA in Screenwriting program. Writers who've worked with Drew have collectively written dozens of published novels, scores of paid screenplays, hundreds of hours of Emmy-award-winning TV, and studio movies that have grossed more than $100 Million worldwide. Drew Brody on IMDB   https://www.imdb.com/name/nm2027470/?ref_=ttfc_fc_crTheInfinitemonkeyProject.comhttps://www.instagram.com/infinitemonkey.mov/https://www.facebook.com/theinfinitemonkeyproject/

The journalist Richie McGinniss has always craved action. As a reporter he's found it – and a lot more – in the chaos of the streets, embedding himself with protestors to cover the most divisive and violent demonstrations in American history.Richie may be a media professional of the new era, posting his intense, on-the-ground videos on social media, but he brings an old-school newsman's credibility from his extensive professional experience and globe-trotting life story.Richie studied Arabic and Middle Eastern history at Georgetown University and subsequently traveled to Jordan, Turkey, Israel, Lebanon, and Egypt's Tahrir Square less than a month before it became the flashpoint for the widespread protests and revolutions that erupted during the Arab Spring. Richie has worked at the Al-Jazeera program, “Min Washington,” broadcasting to households in Arabic throughout the Middle East, at NBC News's Washington Bureau as a production assistant, and as the video director at Daily Caller, where he built a team of ten video producers. While covering the demonstrations in Kenosha, Wisconsin, sparked by the police shooting of Jacob Blake, Richie witnessed Kyle Rittenhouse shoot Joseph Rosenbaum and nearly got shot himself when a bullet ricocheted near his foot. Richie was plunged into the national spotlight and praised for his clear, non-biased, neutral reporting of the violence. On the ground for the January 6, 2021, riot at the US Capitol, Richie not only got closer to the action than virtually any other journalist but emerged with a nuanced understanding of how news events can be interpreted and manufactured by the media. Richie recently published his book, Riot Diet: One Man's Ride Through America in Chaos. I've read Riot Diet and can tell you it's a powerful series of reports from some of the most infamous protest riots of our times. Though definitely not for the faint of heart, I highly recommend Richie's book to anyone interested in an insider's look at some of the people covering those events and how they unfold.https://www.amazon.com/stores/author/B0DLQXN1DK

Cleo Childs released her spoken word poetry album, “Moving With” in May 2024. And her book, also called “Moving With,” is soon to be released. Both projects are the culmination of years of writing about the journey of grief Cleo experienced after losing her mother to Alzheimer's when she was 28 years old. Cleo's mom was an English major in college and her grandmother, who is also one of her editors, was an English teacher for 30 years, so she came naturally to writing as a grief processing tool. With her work, Cleo hopes to show the path her grief took from having her mother, losing her mother, and the peace and acceptance she feels now. She also hopes to authentically and honestly look at what her grief felt like so other people going through their own grieving don't feel alone and have a sense of community. You can learn more about Cleo and her various projects at cleochilds.com.

Gabby Gruen spent most of his professional life as a writer-producer inside the country's most prominent ad agencies. After twenty years of elevating the brands of some of our most prestigious advertisers, and with the help of a Screenwriting MFA from UCLA, Gabby started writing screenplays. His original scripts found homes inside a major motion picture studio and on assignment for several less prominent purveyors of the cinematic arts. With the recent publication of his first novel, “The Uniform,” a thriller that takes place during the Holocaust, Gabby has begun his fiction writing career. I've read The Uniform and can tell you it's an intense trip through a nasty piece of World War II as experienced by David Korda, a young doctor and Jewish labor camp prisoner, who's become an enslaved road crew worker destined for a death camp until he comes upon the body of a murdered Gestapo officer. David contrives to use the officer's bloodied uniform as a means of escape. I was riveted by this chilling page turner. If you like great reads, I highly recommend The Uniform to you.Gabby will soon publish his second book, The Ride of a Lifetime, a crime story set on the frozen streets of Detroit. If you are searching for Gabby's books on Amazon, please search for G Gruen.

The very busy actress, Laila Robins, was recently seen in Ryan Murphy's anthology series, American Horror Stories. She also has a recurring role as Colonel Grace Mallory on the hugely popular Amazon series, The Boys.  Laila starred opposite Amanda Seyfried in the Apple+ limited series, The Crowded Room and opposite Joshua Jackson and Alec Baldwin in the Hulu limited series, Dr. Death.  She also recurred memorably as Katarina Rostova on the hit NBC series The Blacklist, and she had a major arc playing Pamela Milton on the final season of AMC's The Walking Dead.  Among, Laila's many film appearances are: Eye in the Sky, Side Effects, Blumenthal, Concussion, The Good Shepherd, An Innocent Man, Welcome Home Roxy Carmichael, True Crime, and Planes, Trains, and Automobiles.  You may have also seen her in such TV series as: The Handmaid's Tale, Homeland, Deception, 30 Rock, So Help Me Todd, Bull, Person of Interest, Blue Bloods, Damages, In Treatment, The Sopranos, Law and Order, and the series lead in Gabriel's Fire opposite the late, legendary James Earl Jones. Laila's work on Broadway includes Heartbreak House, the Tony-nominated play Frozen, and The Real Thing, as well as Off-Broadway in: the quartet of Richard Nelson's Apple Family plays. She's also appeared around the U.S. in numerous stage performances in shows such as: The Lady from Dubuque, Antony and Cleopatra, A Midsummer's Night's Dream, Sore Throats, Tiny Alice, Mrs. Klein, The Merchant of Venice, and many productions at The Guthrie in her hometown of St. Paul/Minneapolis, including Hedda Gabler and The Lion in Winter.   Over the years, I've enjoyed quite a few of Laila's on-screen performances in shows of which I'm a big fan, including everything she did in The Walking Dead, Homeland, The Blacklist and The Boys. Laila never hits a false note even when the stories in which she's acting brilliantly defy reality.Of note: Laila also happens to be married to a favorite StoryBeat guest, and someone to whom I owe a great debt of gratitude, the phenomenal actor and singer, Robert Cuccioli, who originated the roles of Henry Jekyll and Edward Hyde in the musical I created with Frank Wildhorn, Jekyll & Hyde.

Making a return for his third appearance on StoryBeat is the great jazz and world flutist, Michael Mason.  Michael's been a professional musician and composer for forty years, while simultaneously working in the fire service of the Downers Grove, Illinois Fire Department, recently retiring at the rank of Lieutenant. Michael is one of the first responders from the Chicago area who flew to New York City just days after the destruction of the World Trade Center. He helped the New York City Fire Department and Port Authority for many weeks. In 2024, Michael released his latest album called “Luminosity,” which follows up 2023's, “Impermanence,” “Transcendence” in 2022, and “Human Revolution” in 2021. All are original jazz and world music compositions which received approval for voting from the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences for Grammy Award consideration.Michael's musical influences come from James Newton, Ian Anderson, Miles Davis, John Coltrane, Eric Dolphy, Sun Ra, Yusef Lateef, and James Galway.I've listened multiple times to each of his excellent records and can tell you Michael's impressive work will instantly soothe your soul with warm, beautiful melodies, gorgeous arrangements, and Michael's brilliance on the flute.  I highly recommend you check out his wonderful recordings and music.Michael's currently in the studio mixing 8 new songs for release in 2025 on the AVG Records label, so be sure to look out for that.Michael's been gracious enough to lend us his radiant composition, Moments from Luminosity. Please be sure to stick around at the end of the show to give it a listen. 

Doctor Tom Stein recently published his first book, Gratitude Is Not Enough, The True Story of a Belgian Family Forever Changed by a Band of American WWII Soldiers. The book focuses on the Remember Museum ‘39-‘45 in Clermont, Belgium that was opened by Marcel and Mathilde Schmetz, better known as the M&Ms by soldiers in a U.S. Army Company of the First Infantry Division who were briefly quartered on Marcel's family farm in December 1944 before the Battle of the Bulge.  Marcel saved many of the items the soldiers left behind, what he calls “treasure,” and which became the core of this special collection dedicated to the Americans who helped liberate Belgium from four years of Nazi occupation. The Museum, which is adjacent to the M&M's home, contains the requisite "stuff" of a museum, but importantly, tells the soldiers' stories, many of whom became lifelong friends with Marcel and Mathilde.  I've read Gratitude is Not Enough and can tell you it's a powerfully written account of what the people of Clermont endured during World War II and the M&Ms efforts to preserve its history in their museum. I highly recommend this book to you. Dr. Tom Stein is a retired Emergency Physician, as well as a retired Colonel in the U.S. Army Medical Corps. He completed his Emergency Medicine Residency at Darnall Army Community Hospital, Fort Hood, Texas and served thirty-eight years in the Army and Army Reserves. Emergency Medical Services and Disaster Medicine are his sub-specialties.  

Robert Monroe worked for more than a decade as a New York casting director and talent executive. His credits include projects with the Walt Disney Company, the John Houseman Theater, the Annual MDA Telethon, and the United Paramount Network.  Robert won a Clio Award for casting the Best Performance for Children for a Dole Pre-Cut Vegetables commercial.Robert eventually moved to Portland, Maine to pursue a career as a photographer. Exhibitions of his work include the Biennial at the Portland Museum of Art, Photographing Maine: Ten Years Later at the Center for Maine Contemporary Art, and Return to Peyton Place: Photographs by Robert Monroe at the Mohawk Valley Center for the Arts. And he's a founding member of the Bakery Photographic Collective. Recently, Robert published his debut novel, Bungalow Terrace. I've read Bungalow Terrace and can tell you it's a beautifully written tale about four boys growing up to become a powerhouse rock ‘n roll group who endure all the breathtaking highs of success and harrowing challenges of the sex, drugs, and rock and roll fueled 50's, 60's, 70's and beyond.  Bungalow Terrace reads like an insider's account of the lives of The Beatles, The Four Seasons, and The Beach Boys all rolled into one.  I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book and highly recommend it to you.

Screenwriter, producer, and podcaster Adam “Tex” Davis is best known for writing the screenplay of the cult rom-com classic Just Friends, which stars Ryan Reynolds, Amy Smart, and Anna Faris. He also wrote the screenplay for the drama Gardener of Eden, which stars Lukas Haas and was produced by Leonardo DiCaprio's Appian Way.  A graduate of NYU's Tisch School of the Arts, Tex has contributed to over 25 feature film scripts and served as Co-Executive Producer and Head Writer for the Emmy-nominated series Brain Games.  Tex is also a co-founder of Atomic Entertainment, overseeing projects like the Netflix educational series, Brainchild, and a growing slate of podcasts that he writes or stars in such as Slaycation, Mysteries About True Histories, The Oscars: What Were They Thinking? and Who Smarted?! 

Adam Rosenbaum recently published his beautifully written book, The Ghost Rules. I've read The Ghost Rules and can tell you this is a thoroughly charming, fun and funny story about 12-year-old Elwood McGee, who never asked to have “ghost-sight,” but winds up seeing more than his share of drooling, mostly hilarious apparitions. Wonderful, lovable ghosts are everywhere in Adam's joyful debut novel. Adam's had a varied career, including operating a sawmill in Kentucky, stocking groceries in L.A., and as a student draftsman at his local power company growing up in the Nashville suburbs, where he currently lives with his wife and kids. For the record, Adam and I met while we were in school together in UCLA's professional program in Screenwriting. https://www.adamrosenbaumwrites.com/Instagram:@rosenbaumwritesThreads:@rosenbaumwritesBluesky:@rosenbaumwrites.bsky.social  

Documentary film director Laura Gabbert has made critically acclaimed films that deploy humor and emotion to tell penetrating, character-driven stories about American culture and society. Among her documentaries, Food and Country, premiered at the 2023 Sundance Film Festival and was released theatrically in October 2024. Laura's film, Ottolenghi and the Cakes of Versailles, explores chef Yotam Ottolenghi's collaboration with the Metropolitan Museum of Art. She also directed City of Gold, which is about Pulitzer Prize winning food writer, Jonathan Gold. City of Gold was named by Vogue Magazine among their “65 Best Documentaries of All Time.”Additional feature work includes the documentaries No Impact Man, Sunset Story, and the short film Monument/Monumento. Her TV work includes the Netflix shows Ugly Delicious and Disclosure. Most recently, Laura completed the 6-part non-fiction series, The Power of Film, based on the work of legendary UCLA film scholar, Professor Howard Suber. The series premiered on Turner Classic Movies in January 2024. For the record, Laura and I know one another from “The Power of Film” as I became involved in this exceptional project as a Co-Executive Producer. Like Laura, I'm a UCLA MFA Graduate and one of Howard Suber's former students. Howard has been a guest on StoryBeat, and his episode is one of this show's most downloaded. https://lauragabbertfilms.com/www.thepoweroffilm.com 

L. A. Starks is the author of the award-winning Lynn Dayton thriller series that includes: 13 Days: The Pythagoras Conspiracy, the multi-award-nominated Strike Price, The Second Law, and the recently released Winner's Curse.             I've read Winner's Curse and can tell you it's an exciting adventure into the high stakes world of the oil and gas industry, with corporate intrigue, sabotage, and ruthless, power-hungry characters around every turn. If you like thrillers, be sure to check out Winner's Curse.L.A. earned a degree in engineering at Tulane University and an MBA at the University of Chicago Booth School of Business. Besides writing high-stakes thrillers, she's also a paid contributor to Seeking Alpha for her energy investment articles.https://lastarksbooks.com/https://www.facebook.com/LAStarksBooks 

Hal Ackerman is making his second appearance on StoryBeat. Hal spent thirty years teaching screenwriting in UCLA's legendary screenwriting program. Along with Richard Walter and Lew Hunter, Hal helped launch the careers of many dozens of writers whose work you've seen on screens large and small. Hal has sold film and television material to all the outlets. His screenplay Holmeyer's Bridge, holds the unofficial Guinness record for having been continuously optioned for twenty consecutive years, owned during that stretch by two Academy Award winning producers, two Tony Award winning producers and others.His short fiction has appeared in numerous literary journals. “Sweet Day” was recorded by the late Robert Forster. Concrete Charley and The Golden Boy won the 2020 Sports Literate Sport Short contest.Hal's written three “Soft boiled” murder mystery novels about an aging counter-culture P.I. named Harry Stein. The first of those, Stein Stung, won a Lovey award for best first novel. Subsequently, he published Stein Stoned and more recently, Smoke and Lather. I thoroughly enjoyed reading all three Stein books and can tell you Hal delivers a unique take on the detective genre. Funny while being dramatic, Hal's writing is cleverly brilliant and brilliantly clever. I highly recommend all three Harry Stein books to you.Hal's also known for publishing the highly informative and truly useful book, Write Screenplays that Sell: The Ackerman Way. If you want insight from one of the foremost screenwriting teachers of the last half century, make a point to check it out.  Hal's One-Man play, Testosterone: How Prostate Cancer Made a Man of Me (renamed Prick) won the William Saroyan award for drama and was named Best Play at the 2012 New York Solo Festival. In the interest of full disclosure, I'm proud to say I was fortunate to have been one of Hal's many students while I was attending UCLA's Graduate Screenwriting program. www.halackermanwriting.com CreativeLive.com

David Paul Kirkpatrick is the former Walt Disney Studios production chief and also the former president of Paramount Pictures. He's worked on more than 200 motion pictures and their screenplays, including such global franchises as Indiana Jones and Star Trek. David has guided countless adaptations of books and plays to movies including Forrest Gump, The Elephant Man, Ordinary People, and Terms of Endearment. He also won an Emmy and Golden Globe for his HBO production of Rasputin: Dark Servant of Destiny.David's authored several books, including: The Address of Happiness, Breakfast in the Temple, and The Dog. I've read The Address of Happiness and can tell you it's a deeply moving story of two souls who repeatedly find themselves through both time and space. I highly recommend The Address of Happiness to you.A believer in giving back, David wants to inspire and equip the writers of tomorrow. He believes fiction is an underutilized tool that can help build a better world.  As such, he founded Story Summit, which has a mission to build community and connection among students and faculty while delivering world-class instruction in the art and craft of writing. https://www.storysummit.us/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Kirkpatrick_(producer)HEADSHOT PHOTO CREDIT BY MILLER MOBLEY 

Theresa Griffin Kennedy is a longtime Portland, Oregon writer, author and occasional poet.  She works as a proofreader, developmental editor and is chief editor of Oregon Greystone Press. Theresa writes both creative nonfiction, including crime profiles, as well as literary fiction, specifically in the genre of domestic noir. Theresa sometimes writes essays about saving old buildings, and the environment, which includes a long essay on the health and challenges of the Mekong River. Theresa's the author of the novel, Talionic Night in Portland: A Love Story, which was longlisted in the Clue and Somerset book awards for 2022. I've Read Talionic Night in Portland and can tell you it's a mesmerizing take on the noir genre, full of an intense romance and workplace revenge. I highly recommend it to you. She's also published Lost Restaurants of Portland, Oregon, delving into the history of shuttered Portland restaurants. And Theresa's the editor of a great short story collection called Beyond Where the Buses Run, which includes 2 stories of her own, as well as stories from several favorite past StoryBeat guests like Bob Crane, Joe Coyle, and Andy Erish.She's currently working on her second novel, The Angry Garbageman of Thurman Street. https://theresagriffinkennedy.substack.com/

         Ana Benitez is one of the founders of Storyrocket.com, a leading internet site where thousands of writers from around the world showcase their works to producers and agents.  Ana's mission is to help educate writers on how to get their stories seen by producers and agents. As such, she's an impassioned author's advocate for the entertainment community. She also works hard at leading Storyrocket's brand expansion and partnerships.For the record, I've had the privilege of working with Ana on Storyrocket seminars and workshops, which was very fulfilling for me to do.Of note, Ana is a 2-time Emmy Award-winning television producer with over 25 years of experience in the entertainment industry. Her TV career spans from broadcast news to “live” morning shows, to scripted and special events productions. She's worked with Univision, Telemundo, Disney, Major League Baseball and many fortune 500 companies. She's also been honored by the City of Los Angeles for her contribution to the expansion of culture and entertainment.Ana's been featured in the Huffington Post, Miami Herald, Wayfarer Magazine, L.A. Biz, as well as leading Spanish-language publications like El Mundo and La Vanguardia. She's also an international speaker at “best in class” events throughout the United States and Latin America.WWW.STORYROCKET.COM 

R.J. Stewart spent more than 20 years as a writer and producer in Hollywood. He got his first break writing for the NBC romantic-detective drama, Remington Steele that starred Pierce Brosnan and Stephanie Zimbalist.  He's best known for developing, writing and producing Xena: Warrior Princess (starring Lucy Lawless), once the highest-rated television show in syndication.  Among his other Hollywood credits are movies like The Rundown, starring Duane “The Rock” Johnson, Major League 2, starring Charlie Sheen, and the TV series Cleopatra 2525. He's also worked on projects with Kevin Costner, Rebecca De Mornay and James Garner.Recently, R.J. published the terrific post-apocalyptic thriller, Crazy Hawk, which I've read and can tell you is a fantastically action-packed dystopian western set in an inhospitable American future. I thoroughly enjoyed reading Crazy Hawk, and highly recommend it to you. For more information, please see www.hovartus.com

This is an encore of our episode with the great director, Rob Marshall. He has made numerous films that have been honored with a total of 30 Academy Award nominations — winning 9 in all, including Best Picture for “Chicago,” which alone won a total of 6 of those Oscars. Also, for “Chicago,” Rob received the Directors Guild Award, and nominations for Best Director for the Oscar, Golden Globe and BAFTA awards. Additionally, he won Best Directorial Debut from the National Board of Review and the New York Film Critics Online, as well as the American Choreography Award.Most recently, Rob directed and produced the live-action feature, “The Little Mermaid” for Disney, starring Halle Bailey, Melissa McCarthy and Javier Bardem.Rob's other directorial achievements include multiple nominations for award-winning features like: “Memoirs of a Geisha,” “Nine,” “Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides,” which went on to gross over 1 billion dollars worldwide, “Into the Woods,” and “Mary Poppins Returns.”Rob executive produced, directed, and choreographed the NBC TV event “Tony Bennett: An American Classic,” for which he won his second Directors Guild Award. He's also won 3 Emmys for Direction, Choreography, and Outstanding Variety, Music or Comedy Special. He directed and choreographed the Disney/ABC movie musical “Annie,” which received 12 Emmy nominations and won the prestigious Peabody Award. For choreographing Annie, Rob also received an Emmy and an American Choreography Award.He's received the Humanitas Prize for co-writing Mary Poppins Returns, and other awards from the Art Directors Guild, the Cinema Audio Society, the Costume Designers Guild, as well as the Annie Award, the Hamilton Award, and the Chita Rivera Award.Rob's extensive stage work includes the Broadway productions of “Cabaret,” “Little Me,” “Victor/Victoria,” “Damn Yankees,” “She Loves Me,” “Company,” and “Kiss of the Spiderwoman.” He's been nominated six times for the Tony Award, and he's a George Abbott Award winner.For the record, Rob and I are both graduates of Taylor Allderdice High School here in Pittsburgh. Rob is also an alumni of Carnegie Mellon University's top-rated School of Drama.

Martin Dugard is the New York Times bestselling author known for his nonfiction works and historical thrillers, among them Taking London, Taking Paris, Taking Berlin, the Killing series with Bill O'Reilly, Into Africa, and The Explorers. Recently, I read Martin's excellent book, Taking London: Winston Churchill and the Fight to Save Civilization, and can tell you it's a riveting, well-researched tale of truly fascinating people in London during World War II, who were both extremely famous, like Churchill, Neville Chamberlain, Edward R. Murrow, and others, as well as various less well-known fighter pilots who stood in the breach when dealing with harrowing life and death challenges. A seasoned adventurer and journalist, Martin has written books and articles that have been praised for their engaging narratives and meticulous research, such as the Tour de France, ancient civilizations, and adventure sports. In addition, Martin serves on the Board of Directors of the USA Track & Field Foundation, and coaches cross country high school athletes. www.martindugard.com 

Mark Arnold is a comic book, animation and pop culture historian. He's published 10 books and numerous articles in various publications. His books include: "The Harveyville Fun Times!", "If You're Cracked, You're Happy: The Story of Cracked Magazine, Book 1 and Book 2", "Mark Arnold Picks on The Beatles", "Frozen in Ice: The Story of Walt Disney Productions: 1966-1985", "Think Pink! The DePatie-Freleng Story", as well as books on Total Television Productions, Dennis the Menace, The Monkees, and Alvin and the Chipmunks." Mark's latest books are about the music group, The Turtles, and a 2-volume MAD Magazine history, all of which came out in 2024. I've read both “Unconditionally Mad, Part 1,” and “Unconditionally Mad, Part B,” and can tell you they're deeply and thoroughly researched histories of the ongoing seven decades run of Mad Magazine. If you want to know all about the people behind some of the most hilarious writing and drawing ever, as well as other pop culture sensations, I highly recommend you check out all of Mark's books. He's also produced and recorded DVD commentaries for Shout! Factory and Kino Lorber and has helped the Cartoon Art Museum and the Schnitzer Museum with various art shows. Mark also hosts the Fun Ideas Podcast. funideasprod.wordpress.com/

Michael Buzzelli calls himself a stand-up comedian and sit-down author. Michael's performed comedy nationwide, most notably at three legendary clubs, the Ice House, the Comedy Store, and the Improv in Los Angeles. As a writer, Michael has been published in various websites, magazines, and newspapers. He's the theater & arts critic for ‘Burgh Vivant, Pittsburgh's online cultural talk magazine. He's also a Moth Grand Slam storyteller and actor. As well, Michael has presented workshops on humor to the Romance Writers of America and the Pennwriters Conference. His short film, “Light's Out,” is playing at film festivals worldwide.Michael's books, “Below Average Genius,” a collection of essays culled from his weekly humor column in the Observer-Reporter, and his romantic comedy, “All I Want for Christmas,” are on sale at Amazon.com. His short story, “Study Buddy,” is in a collection of LGBTQ romance stories entitled “Winter Break.” I've read “All I Want for Christmas,” and “Below Average Genius,” and can tell you Michael is a wry, witty, and often laugh out loud writer of heartfelt stories regarding the human condition. I highly recommend you check out Michael's work.He's also working on a full-length LGBTQ rom-com called “Why I Hate My Friends.”https://www.instagram.com/michaelbuzzelli/https://www.facebook.com/michael.buzzelli.58/

Jeff Leisawitz burns with a mission— to inspire and teach Storytellers and Creatives of every flavor to open minds and connect hearts with their words and stories. Jeff is a Grand LIA, Cannes Lion Gold and Clio Gold award-winning Creative Consultant, critically acclaimed author, award winning music producer, internationally distributed screenwriter, and former college instructor. As a coach, keynote speaker and workshop facilitator based in Seattle, Jeff helps clients and students overcome internal blocks, tap into their creative potential, get published, land major sales and win awards. He has been featured in top podcasts, magazines and newspapers including: Script Magazine, Film Courage, The Guardian, Music Connection, Tiny Buddha, Huff Post, The Unmistakable Creative and more, including once before on StoryBeat.Jeff's latest book is The Magical Impact of Storytelling, which I've read and can tell you is an easy-to-read, highly motivating compendium of encouraging advice for anyone hoping to become their best creative self. If you're looking for inspiration in your storytelling life, I urge you to check out The Magical Impact of Storytelling.www.jeffleisawitz.com

Mark Jonathan Harris is a three-time Oscar-winning and Emmy-nominated filmmaker, as well as an award-winning author of 10 books, a distinguished professor of film of four decades, and an acclaimed journalist. His newest book, Misfits, is a collection of wonderfully character-driven short stories.I've read Misfits and can tell you the book comprises 12 dynamic stories about offbeat characters grappling with personal encounters as they try to live their disconnected lives.  I highly recommend this insightful set of stories to you.Mark started his professional career covering crime for the famed City News Bureau of Chicago. He also reported national news for the Associated Press before making TV documentaries.For several years Mark was a contributing editor to New West magazine. He also wrote articles, essays, and reviews for national newspapers and magazines including: TV Guide, American Heritage, the New York Times, the L.A. Times and the Washington Post. He's also published five award-winning novels for children.Mark's early films document some of the most important political issues of the 1960s. Huelga! is a portrait of Cesar Chavez's United Farmworkers Union and the first year of the union's historic Delano grape strike. The Redwoods, which won an Academy Award for Best Short Documentary, presents the Sierra Club's successful case for establishing a Redwoods National Park. And The Foreigners explores the work of a group of Peace Corps volunteers confronting the contradictions of U.S. foreign policy as they try to bring social change in Colombia.Two films Mark wrote and directed that explore the Holocaust won Oscars for Best Feature Documentary. The Long Way Home documents what happened to the survivors of the concentration camps immediately following their liberation. And Into the Arms of Strangers: Stories of the Kindertransport chronicles Britain's rescue mission of 10,000 children shortly before World War II. The U.S. Library of Congress selected Into the Arms of Strangers for permanent preservation in the National Film Registry. Among Mark's other notable nominated and award-winning films are: Unchained Memories: Readings from the Slave Narratives; Darfur Now; Breaking Point: The War for Democracy in Ukraine; and Foster. He was also a consulting producer for the 5-part, Peabody Award-winning series Asian Americans.For 40 years, Mark taught filmmaking at the School of Cinematic Arts at the University of Southern California. He also taught for 7 years at the School of Film/Video at Cal Arts. In 2010, the International Documentary Association honored him with its Scholarship and Preservation Award for his educational work. 

Richard Walter is making his second appearance on StoryBeat. Richard is an author of best-selling fiction and nonfiction, a celebrated storytelling educator, screenwriter, script consultant, lecturer and retired professor who led the legendary screenwriting program in UCLA's highly regarded film school for several decades. He's written scripts for the major studios and TV networks; lectured on screenwriting and storytelling, and conducted master classes throughout North America, as well as in London, Paris, Jerusalem, Madrid, Rio, Mexico City, Beijing, Shanghai, Sydney and Hong Kong.  His latest novel,Deadpan, follows the misadventures of a vaguely antisemitic West Virginia Buick dealer who wakes up one day transformed into the world's most popular Jewish comedian.  I've read Deadpan and can tell you it is an exceptionally funny ride with very serious overtones. This is one of the most imaginative time and character-slipping stories I've read since Kurt Vonnegut's Slaughterhouse Five.Richard's other books include the novels Escape From Film School and Barry and the Persuasions. His non-fiction titles include: The Whole Picture: Strategies for Screenwriting Success in the New Hollywood; Screenwriting--The Art, Craft and Business of Film and Television Writing; and Essentials of Screenwriting. His books have been translated into eight languages.In the interest of full disclosure, I'm proud to say that I was fortunate to have been one of Richard's students while I was attending UCLA's Graduate Screenwriting program. You can find out much more about Richard and his work by subscribing to his podcast onSubstack, and his blog onMedium. www.richardwalter.com. https://www.facebook.com/ProfRichardWalter?mibextid=LQQJ4dhttps://substack.com/@richardwalterhttps://medium.com/@professorrichardwalter

Heavy metal rock legend, Carl Canedy, and writer Phillip “Doc” Harrington, recently published Carl's autobiography, Tales of a Wild Dog, Memoirs of a Rock Warrior. Since the age of 5, after observing a striking red drum set at a wedding reception, Carl was determined to play the drums. He received his first drum set in his early teens, immediately immersed himself in practice, and eventually developed his now-famous signature style. He also taught himself how to play guitar and piano, which would later come in handy in his role as a songwriter. After spending his formative years touring with the band Kelakos, in 1979, Carl joined forces with David “Rock” Feinstein to start the legendary Upstate, NY power trio, The Rods. The band quickly became a sensation in the northeast, landing a major recording contract with Arista Records. The Rods toured and played shows with the likes of no less than: Judas Priest, Ozzy, Motörhead, Metallica, Richie Blackmore, Blue Oyster Cult, and many others. In the late 1980's, Carl produced of some of heavy metal's most iconic bands, including: Anthrax, Overkill, Exciter, Possessed, Helstar and many others. He also coached, developed, and mentored bands such as Roxx Gang and Young Turk. The Rods had a resurgence in 2010 with their comeback album; Vengeance., which was followed by Brotherhood of Metal and the highly acclaimed Rattle the Cage. The Rods continue to tour and are currently putting the final touches on their 11th studio album. Carl has also released 2 albums under the moniker of Canedy.Doc is a devoted culinarian and a dedicated heavy metal fan. A graduate of the esteemed Culinary Institute of America, he has spent the past 2 decades writing and arranging technical manuals for the baking industry. Doc views the 80's heavy metal scene as monumentally historic and highly impactful. He seeks to chronicle as much of its stories, triumphs, and challenges as time permits.  A massive Rods fan, Doc encouraged Carl to write his memoirs.I've read Tales of a Wild Dog and can tell you it's an intense, personal look at working within the gritty, full force world of Heavy Metal.  If you're a fan of the genre and want to know more about its origins and the people in it, be sure to check out Tales of a Wild Dog. www.canedyband.com

Christopher Akerlind, has designed lighting, and occasionally scenery, for over 650 productions of theater, opera, and dance across the U.S. and around the world, including 24 shows on Broadway. Chris's recent work includes Waiting for Godot at Theatre for a New Audience, Lynn Nottage's play Clyde's on Broadway and at the Mark Taper Forum, The Light in the Piazza, for which he won his first Tony, Paula Vogel's play Indecent, winning him both the Tony and Drama Desk Awards, Rocky the Musical, which garnered him a Tony nomination, Sting's musical The Last Ship, and The Gershwin's Porgy and Bess, for which he was also Tony nominated. Among Chris's other Broadway lighting designs are: August Wilson's The Piano Lesson and Seven Guitars, Talk Radio, and the musical, Waitress.Chris's numerous shows not on Broadway include: Scene with Cranes for CalArts Center for New Performance; the premiere of M Butterfly for the Santa Fe Opera; and Martha Clarke's devised pieces God's Fool, Angel Reapers, and Cheri. Chris has also received an Obie Award for Sustained Excellence, four Drama Desk Awards, the Michael Merritt Award for Design and Collaboration, two Chicago area Joseph Jefferson Awards, as well as numerous nominations for the Drama Desk, Lucille Lortel, and Outer Critics Circle Awards.Chris has taught lighting design at schools like Cal Arts, USC, CMU, and his alma mater, Yale.

Laura Pliskin is a talented art department coordinator who has contributed to some of the most visually stunning sets in film and television history.Laura has worked on projects like "Twisters," "Drive-Away Dolls,", and "Out of the Furnace." She's also been part of blockbuster hits like "The Dark Knight Rises" and the critically acclaimed TV series "Mindhunter." Laura's role involves managing logistics, coordinating art department schedules including between various departments, and ensuring that every detail aligns with the production designer's vision. Her meticulous attention to detail and ability to juggle multiple tasks make her an essential part of any production team. Beyond her on-set responsibilities, Laura brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to her role. She studied video game art at Carnegie Mellon University and used to co-own an event planning company, adding a diverse range of skills to her impressive portfolio. 

The writer, Jon Kremer, has lived in Bournemouth, a town on the south-coast of England, since he was a teenager, coinciding with the start of the 1960s.  That famous decade of cultural change allowed him to experience many aspects of the UK music industry via both the ownership of his town's original vintage vinyl shop, Bus Stop Records, which opened during 1967's Summer of Love, and a long-standing friendship with ‘Year of the Cat' singer-songwriter, Al Stewart.  A 60's music highlight was meeting the Beatles at the height of Britain's Beatlemania.  The story of Jon and Al finding themselves in the backstage company of John Lennon moments after the Fabs had first performed “She Loves You” live for an audience, days before the record's release, became known as ‘The Men from Rickenbacker'. The tale of two teenagers pretending to be representatives of Rickenbacker guitars and needing to talk with the Beatles, eventually was retold many times in books, magazines, newspapers, tour programs, and on TV and radio.  Jon's first book, Bournemouth A Go! Go! – A Sixties Memoir, visited the story in-depth, as it takes a look back at the Bournemouth music scene in the early 60's, featuring future members of The Police, King Crimson and Emerson, Lake, and Palmer - Andy Summers, Robert Fripp, and Greg Lake.   A long-time fascination with the often obscure or overlooked key history-making moments that created and energized the story of pop and rock led to Jon writing the book, Chain Reaction, Rock ‘n Pop's Magic Moments.  I've read Chain Reaction and can tell you it's a fascinating exploration of how artists influence one another as they build out their careers, especially so in the music industry.

            My guest today, the noted muralist, John Cerney, is a Salinas, California native whose artwork can best be described as ‘giant cut-out plywood art' that's ordinarily viewed from the comfort of your car. There's a sense of Norman Rockwell to his work, with a dash of Christo.            After earning an art degree from Cal State Long Beach in 1984, John worked in Southern California as a portrait artist, rendering finely detailed pencil drawings. His patrons were television producers, actors, and writers, with such clients as the late comedian John Candy and baseball star Reggie Jackson.            Wanting to reach a larger audience, John would periodically relocate to Central California and convince a farmer to allow him to paint a mural on his barn, just for practice. This led to commissions from local businesses. A major shift happened when he added cutout plywood pieces to his barn murals. Eventually, he abandoned barns and walls altogether, concentrating on the cut-outs themselves.When the scale of his work got much larger, it attracted ad agencies and businesses from around the country. By then he had a blueprint for the way to create his art installations, which he still does to this day. John splits his time working on commissions from clients across the country and his own personal projects that allow him to explore his unusual form of public art. John's work can be found in 23 states around the U.S. And his work has been featured in National Geographic Magazine, Smithsonian Magazine, and the New York Times. https://www.johncerneymurals.com/Instagram: @johncerney

Veteran theater and film actor James Sutorius has performed for the most prestigious regional and repertory theater companies including The Old Globe, La Jolla Playhouse, Center Theatre Group, South Coast Repertory, and Pasadena Playhouse. He's also performed at Lincoln Center, Yale Repertory, Long Wharf Theatre, Seattle Repertory, and many more. In 2007, he won two San Diego Theatre Critics Awards for his performance as George in "Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?" and for his multiple supporting roles in John Strand's play "Lincolnesque." James made his Broadway debut in 1973 in "The Changing Room." In his very first entrance as a member of a rugby team, he had to walk downstage and strip off all his clothes! Instead of finding the experience terrifying, he actually found it liberating. And he played Laertes opposite Sam Waterston's Hamlet at the Vivian Beaumont Theater, alongside a cast of rising stars including Jane Alexander, Mandy Patinkin, George Hearn and John Heard. Most recently James was seen on Broadway in Aaron Sorkin's play "The Farnsworth Invention" that was directed by Des McAnuff and produced by Steven Spielberg. James was the voice for Ragu Spaghetti Sauce for 17 years, spawning the national catchphrase "Now, THAT'S Italian!" He continues to pitch other products for Coca Cola and Wrangler Jeans. He also lends his distinctive voice to audio books and short story anthologies on tape.On TV, James' break came when he starred as investigative reporter Mike Andros in The Andros Targets. He's also appeared on such well-known TV series as Dynasty, Cannon, Kojak, St. Elsewhere, Family Ties, 21 Jump Street, Murder, She Wrote, L.A. Law, The X Files, Judging Amy, and many others. And he was a regular on Bob Crane's short-lived sitcom, The Bob Crane Show. Additionally, he's appeared in such notable TV movies as: A Death in Canaan, A Question of Love, Skokie, Space, and On Wings of Eagles. In feature films, James can be seen in Dancing as Fast as I Can starring Jill Clayburgh and Windy City with John Shea and Kate Capshaw.

Novelist John David Bethel was a speechwriter to Cabinet Secretaries at the Departments of Commerce and Education during the Bush 41 and 43 administrations. He also served as a press secretary and speechwriter to members of the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives. Additionally, David worked as a communications strategist for a number of national and international public relations firms, including Burson Marsteller and Cohn & Wolfe.He began his career in government and politics in 1972 as a speechwriter for the Legacy of Parks program in the Executive Office of the President in the Nixon Administration. He joined the staff of California Congressman Burt Talcott and later Nevada Senator Paul Laxalt as his Press Secretary and speechwriter.  He helped craft the speech Senator Laxalt gave nominating Ronald Reagan to be President. David also wrote the lead article celebrating the second inauguration of President Reagan called We the People, An American Celebration.David also spent many years in the world of business as a writer in various capacities, writing books, speeches, opinion pieces and white papers for such companies as Monsanto, the Sheraton Corporation, UniRoyal as well as the Urban Land Institute, the American Forest and Paper Association, and others. David is an award-winning novelist whose books include Evil Town, Hotel Hell, Unheard Of, Holding Back the Dark and A Washington Trilogy. Recently, he published Mapping the Night, which I've read and can tell you is a terrifically exciting murder mystery thriller set in New York City and featuring characters more comfortable in the night than the day, with wonderful twists that include government intrigue. www.johndavidbethel.com

TV and movie editor, Tim Stepich, was captivated by the films and TV shows of his youth in the 1970s. By the time he was in high school, he set his sights on working in show business. Tim's abiding interest in editing goes back to when, as a teen, he'd make music montages on his home stereo.  He studied television and film at Emerson College in Boston, where he worked in all aspects of film and video production but enjoyed editing the most.  A few years later, Tim made his move to Hollywood with the goal of turning editing into his specialty.   Within a year he got his first editing job and ever since has worked in various genres, including episodic TV, commercials, and music videos.  He edited his first short film, Hate *a Comedy, directed by Drew Daywalt and Dave Schneider, which was a huge success on the festival circuit.  Tim's feature credits include the critically acclaimed Happy Holidays, and the multi-award-winning black comedy horror film, Lucky, directed by some guy named Steve Cuden.  For the record, because of working together on the complex edit of Lucky, Tim and I have been friends for more than 20 years.Tim had a long and satisfying “day job” working for E! Entertainment Television, editing episodes of the iconic True Hollywood Story, and Wild On.   He currently edits for the syndicated entertainment news show Access Hollywood.

Okema T. Moore is an Emmy Nominated PGA producer and rising director. She's created unscripted and branded content for Lifetime, Netflix, and Disney/Marvel, including: Beat Bobby Flay and The Kitchen on Food Network, Oprah's Color of Care, Founding In Color on Peacock, and Nomad with Carlton McCoy on CNN. Most recently, she developed and produced Down in the Valley for STARZ, and was lead producer on Chocolate with Sprinkles for the AFI's Directing Workshop for Women, which won the HBO award at the American Black Film Festival.Okema was a Directing Fellow for Minorities In Film's Branded Lab, a semi-finalist for The Blackhouse Producer's Lab, a 2nd rounder for the Sundance Producer's Track, and a fellow for both the Stowe Story and the Black Magic Creative Producers Labs. She was a finalist for the PANO production microgrant, received a writing fellowship to create her first TV Pilot with Writer's Boot Camp & Women Going Places. And her short script had a live staged reading at the Essence Film Festival in 2024.Okema proudly serves on the board of New York Women in Film & TV and The Black TV & Film Collective. She is committed to lifting while she climbs, building up women, queer, IPOC, Caribbean and Black creatives.She also happens to be a very fine actress.www.moorethanenuff.com

Steve Skrovan has worked as a stand-up comedian, actor, and TV comedy writer since the early eighties. He's written for many shows, most notably, Seinfeld, Hot in Cleveland, Til Death, Wendell and Vinnie, School of Rock, and the entire nine-year run of Everybody Loves Raymond, a show which he has also adapted internationally in Russia, Israel, and India. He currently writes a Substack blog called Bits & Pieces, an anthology of humorous stories and essays.  Steve is also the co-director, writer and producer of An Unreasonable Man a documentary about the career of legendary consumer advocate and third-party presidential candidate, Ralph Nader, which was not only an official selection of the Sundance Film Festival but also made the “shortlist” for Academy Award consideration in the documentary category. In 2005, Steve co-produced the TBS environmental special “Earth to America.”Additionally, Steve co-hosts the weekly radio show Ralph Nader Radio Hour, which runs on Pacifica's KPFK 90.7 FM in Los Angeles and various other independent radio stations, as well as being available on all podcast platforms. He is also a board member of the non-partisan public interest organization Public Citizen in Washington DC. WEBSITES:Bits & Pieces podcast platforms

            This is Paul Chitlik's second appearance on StoryBeat. Paul has written for all the major networks and studios in both English and Spanish.  He was story editor for The New Twilight Zone, and staff writer for the Showtime sitcom, Brothers.  He's directed episodes and been coordinating producer for “Real Stories of the Highway Patrol” and “U.S. Customs Classified.”  He wrote and produced “Alien Abduction,” the first network movie shot on digital video for UPN.  He wrote, produced, and directed “Ringling Brothers Revealed” a special for The Travel Channel, which was right up his alley because years earlier he'd been a roustabout for Circus Vargas.  Paul has written features for Rysher Entertainment, NuImage, Promark, Mainline Releasing, and others.  Most recently he wrote, produced and directed “The Wedding Dress,” for Amazon Prime.  Paul was nominated for a Writers Guild of America award for his work on "The Twilight Zone" and a GLAAD Media Award nomination for Telemundo's "Los Beltrán.” He also won a Genesis Award for a Showtime Family movie. Paul has taught in the MFA programs at UCLA, the University of Barcelona's film school ESCAC, Cuba's film school EICTV, Chile's film school UNIACC, The University of Zulia in Venezuela, The Panamerican University in Mexico City, The Story Academy of Sweden and as a clinical associate professor at Loyola Marymount University. Paul's latest novel is Lies, All Lies. I've read Lies, All Lie, and found it to be one of the most entertaining works of fiction about behind-the-scenes Hollywood I've had the pleasure to peruse.He's also the author of one of the most indispensable, must-read books for anyone interested in writing screenplays, teleplays, plays, and even novels, called Rewrite.For the record, I was one of Paul's students during my days in graduate school at UCLA. Without question, Paul's teachings have remained exceptionally influential on me for both my own writing and in my subsequent years as a college professor of screenwriting.

            The noted author and teacher, Joseph B. Atkins, is a veteran writer and professor emeritus of journalism at the University of Mississippi.             Joe's latest book, Harry Dean Stanton: Hollywood's Zen Rebel, won the Bronze Award for biography from the Independent Publisher Book Awards in 2021.             Regarding Joe's novel, Casey's Last Chance, Edgar Award-winning author Megan Abbott called it, “…pitch-perfect vintage noir.”             Among his other notable works, Joe authored the nonfiction Covering for the Bosses: Labor and the Southern Press. And his novella, Crossed Roads, was a finalist in the Pirate's Alley Faulkner Awards in New Orleans. Joe also edited and contributed to the short story collection Mojo Rising: Contemporary Writers, Vol. II.             His articles and short stories have appeared in The Oxford American, Noir City, Alfred Hitchcock Mystery Magazine, USA Today, Baltimore Sun, In These Times, Atlanta Journal-Constitution, and the Guadalajara Reporter.             Joe's feature film screenplay, Memphis Tango, was a finalist in the 2021 Final Draft Screenplay Competition and Toronto and Vancouver independent film festivals.       He served as a congressional correspondent for Gannett News Service in Washington, D.C. and worked for several newspapers across the U.S. South. I've read both Harry Dean Stanton: Hollywood's Zen Rebel and Casey's Last Chance and can tell you that Joe has remarkable range. His book on Harry Dean Stanton is a fascinating, in-depth look at one of the most beloved yet unsung actors Hollywood has ever produced. And Casey's Last Chance is a ripping, action-filled, page-turner. I highly recommend both books to you.

Ryan Raddatz is a Los Angeles-based TV writer and producer who has worked on numerous broadcast sitcoms and kids shows including: The Neighborhood on CBS and WordGirl on PBS. And he's developed more than a dozen pilots at various networks. Ryan won two Daytime Emmys for his writing on WordGirl and another three for his work on the Ellen DeGeneres Show. Before writing and producing, Ryan made a living as an actor and composer while failing to make a living playing in indie-rock and bluegrass bands. Ryan Raddatz on IMDB https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1347221/

Filmmaker and author, Dan Mirvish's recent feature, 18½, starred Willa Fitzgerald, John Magaro and Bruce Campbell as the voice of Nixon. The award-winning film played in 25 festivals, had a 60-city theatrical release, played on 7 airlines and is now available on Starz. Prior to that, Dan directed Bernard and Huey, scripted by Oscar and Pulitzer Prize-winner Jules Feiffer.  It starred Oscar-winner Jim Rash and David Koechner. Dan's film Between Us, an adaptation of the hit Off-Broadway play, starred Julia Stiles, David Harbour, Taye Diggs and Melissa George. He was mentored by Robert Altman on his first film, Omaha (the movie), which led him to co-found the upstart Slamdance Film Festival.  And his film Open House prompted the Academy Awards to rewrite their rules on the Best Original Musical category. Dan co-wrote the critically acclaimed novel I Am Martin Eisenstadt. And he wrote two editions and recorded an audiobook of his non-fiction book, The Cheerful Subversive's Guide to Independent Filmmaking.Dan is a graduate of USC's renowned film school and is a member of the Director's Guild of America. Of note, he's also worked as a speechwriter for U.S. Senator Tom Harkin. 

Max Kinnings has written the feature films, Act of Grace, Alleycats, and The Pagan King, as well as various film projects currently in development including a film adaptation of his critically acclaimed play, Wireless Operator. He's the author of four novels, Hitman, The Fixer, Sacrifice, and Baptism. I've read Baptism and can tell you it's a tremendously exciting thriller in the vein of Lee Child, John Grisham, Dan Brown, John Le Carre, and many other great novelists. Max is also the ghost writer of comedian and actor Rik Mayall's bestselling spoof autobiography, Bigger Than Hitler Better Than Christ. Max's work will form the basis of a one-hour documentary he's writing and presenting on BBC Radio 4, due for broadcast in June 2024, which is the tenth anniversary of Rik Mayall's passing. Max was part of the writing team for the award-winning Sony PlayStation game, Little Big Planet 3. Prior to his writing career, Max spent twelve years devising advertising and marketing campaigns for music festivals, tours, comedy shows and West End theatre productions. He holds a PhD. in Creative Writing from Brunel University, London, where he also teaches. 

The actor, singer, and podcaster, Patrick Oliver Jones has been in the performing arts, both onstage and onscreen, for more than 30 years. Originally from Birmingham Alabama, he brought his Southern charm to New York City in 2008 with dreams of Broadway.  And he's gotten close with roles in off-Broadway world premieres, touring nationally with The Addams Family and Evita, and the pre-Broadway cast of First Wives Club that never quite made it. Having collaborated with Tony-winning directors such as Jerry Zaks, Randy Skinner, and a favorite StoryBeat guest, Richard Maltby Jr., he's gotten to perform alongside Broadway talents like Joey Fatone, Alfonso Ribeiro, Faith Prince, and Andrea McArdle. And he has found regional theater acclaim with Henry and SALT Award nominations for standout performances in Fun Home and Crazy for You. On camera, there have been numerous national commercials, award-winning short films, and co-starring roles on TV shows like Blue Bloods, Law & Order: Criminal Intent, and Imposters. In 2022 he received the Communicator Award of Distinction from the Academy of Interactive and Visual Arts for his work in podcasting. He currently produces and hosts three performing arts podcasts: Why I'll Never Make It, which is in its eighth season, Closing Night, which focuses on Broadway history, and The Spotlight Series in which he talks with those making a difference in the arts and beyond. For the record, I've been a guest on Why I'll Never Make It discussing my career in show business and how I created Jekyll & Hyde, the Musical with Frank Wildhorn.  I've got to tell you, it was a lot of fun for me to do the show with Patrick, and I highly urge you to give it a listen.

Doug Pray is a documentary filmmaker of great range and substance. His portraits of subcultures and creative visionaries have led him to numerous Sundance premieres, critical raves, and awards. His feature documentaries include: “Love, Lizzo,” “Surfwise,” and the Emmy Award-winning “Art & Copy.” His first two films, “Hype!,” the story of the Seattle music scene, and “Scratch,” about DJs and the birth of hip-hop, are often ranked among the best music docs of all time. Doug won a Grammy and 5 Emmy nominations as executive producer, writer and editor of HBO's “The Defiant Ones.” He executive produced “From Cradle to Stage” with Dave Grohl, and the AppleTV+ series “Home.” This year, 2024, Turner Classic Movies and Max debuted “The Power of Film,” a 6-part series with Professor Howard Suber, for which Doug was executive producer, supervising editor, and writer. Doug has also directed dozens of commissioned short films and non-fiction commercials, including an HIV/AIDS awareness campaign which won him his first Emmy.  For the record, Doug and I know one another from “The Power of Film” as I became involved in this extraordinary project as a Co-Executive Producer. Like Doug, I'm a UCLA MFA Graduate and one of Howard Suber's former students.https://dougpray.com/

Jimi Fritz is a filmmaker, musician, writer, entrepreneur, raconteur and roustabout. He's written two feature-length screenplays, numerous articles, and a non-fiction book about rave culture. He's also made numerous films and music videos.His latest book, entitled, The End of Everything, An Ironic Black Comedy, is about an older man simply named Fritz, who spends his days in a psychiatric institution plotting his own suicide while contending with the extraordinary insanity all around him. I've read The End of Everything and can tell you this is one of the most unique stories I've ever had the pleasure to peruse. Deeply intellectual, smartly psychological, and wildly hilarious, The End of Everything had me turning pages and wanting neither the story nor Fritz to end. If you like darkly comic storytelling, I highly urge you to read it.Previously, Jimi published Confessions of an Ethical Drug Dealer, which is a psychedelic travelogue and memoir. Jimi takes his readers on a journey both geographical and philosophical, while sharing a half-century of adventures in buying, selling and consuming psychedelic drugs. Along the way we learn the difference between smart drugs and dumb drugs, the truth about religion, and how to make a perfect cup of tea.Jimi Fritz professes to be a heterodoxical polemicist, a sceptical polymath, an iconoclastic antitheist, and an aficionado of Stoicism. PLEASE NOTE: This show contains a discussion about assisted suicide. Experiencing thoughts of suicide or self-harm can be distressing.  Speaking with someone about your feelings could help with your distress. Either talk to someone close to you, or there are services with volunteers who are trained to listen. If you are considering suicide or self-harm or are in danger, please call your local emergency services or the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at: 1-800-273-TALK (8255) immediately to ensure your safety.        Please also consider seeking the assistance of a mental health professional. They can provide you with support over a longer period of time.You may also find it useful to establish a safety plan which can be designed to help you navigate suicidal feelings.  Jimifritz.ca

Dr. William J. Carl is a Greek scholar, screenwriter, playwright, and lyricist. He's also a former professor, seminary president, and pastor, who's been a U.S. Senate Guest Chaplain. He's been a speaker at Oxford, Cambridge, Princeton, Cornell, Boston University, Carnegie Mellon, as well as in Russia, South Africa, India, China, South Korea, Taiwan, Rwanda, and Canada.  Further, he's also the former President of the Pittsburgh Theological Seminary. William has authored eight nonfiction books (including lectures he gave at Princeton, two of which have been translated into Korean) and one novel, Assassin's Manuscript, which is a “Dan Brown meets Daniel Silva”-style thriller. No less than Alex Haley, the author of Roots, encouraged him to write it.  I've read Assassin's Manuscript and can tell you it's an action-packed international page-turner in which politics, religion, and history play essential roles. I highly urge you to check it out.William's screenplay, Maggie's Perfect Match, won the Telluride Indiefest Screenwriting Contest and the Dallas Screenwriting Contest, and it was a Quarter-finalist in the Nicholl and the Austin Screenwriting contests. Not only did William turn Maggie's Perfect Match into a play, but he's also adapted it into a musical. Since 2000, William has also lectured on the brain at medical schools and medical conferences.

David Stenn was hired by the TV series Hill Street Blues immediately after graduating from Yale, becoming the show's youngest writer ever. David then wrote She Was Marked For Murder, an NBC movie that earned an Edgar nomination from the Mystery Writers Guild of America.David returned to television as Producer of 21 Jump Street, then Supervising Producer of Beverly Hills, 90210. David's first biography, Clara Bow: Runnin' Wild, which was published by Doubleday and edited by no less than Jacqueline Onassis, became a national bestseller. Variety raved, "Only rarely will you find a book that is as total a winner on every level as Clara Bow: Runnin' Wild." His second biography, “Bombshell: The Life and Death of Jean Harlow, again, edited by Jacqueline Onassis, was cited by the New York Times as one of the year's notable books.“It Happened One Night…At M-G-M,” David's discovery for Vanity Fair of Hollywood's best-suppressed scandal, brought vindication to rape survivor Patricia Douglas after sixty-six years in hiding and is now considered an historical progenitor of the MeToo movement. The story was adapted into Girl 27, a documentary film that David directed. I've read David's excellent book on Clara Bow and seen Girl 27. Both are powerful pieces about Hollywood's long history in how power players treat both celebrities and those who wish to become celebrated.David then served as Co-Executive Producer of The L Word and Supervising Producer on the HBO series Boardwalk Empire. His most recent screenplay assignments have been for Martin Scorsese; Leonardo DiCaprio/Warner Bros.; and Working Title.David is a passionate supporter of film preservation. He serves on the Film Committee of the Museum of Modern Art in New York and Board of Directors at the UCLA Film & Television Archive in Los Angeles. 

The phenomenal screenwriter and novelist, Joey Hartstone, had his first two feature films directed by no less than Rob Reiner. The first film, LBJ, which was named to Hollywood's highly respected Black List in 2014, starred Woody Harrelson as LBJ.  Joey's second feature, “Shock and Awe,” featured Woody Harrelson, James Marsden, Tommy Lee Jones, Jessica Biel, and Milla Jovovich. He was a member of the writing staff for the first two seasons of “The Good Fight.”  He is currently the showrunner and an executive producer of Showtime's “Your Honor,” starring a favorite StoryBeat guest, Bryan Cranston. Joey's debut novel, “The Local,” a legal thriller about an East Texas patent attorney's first murder case, was published in the spring of 2022 by Doubleday, and is being developed as a series with CBS Studios and King Size Productions. I've read “The Local” and can tell you it's a brilliant, fast-paced, thoroughly entertaining legal murder mystery very much in the vein of John Grisham and Scott Turow. I highly recommend “The Local” to you and am very glad that it's being developed for TV. Who knew Intellectual Property law could be so exciting?Joey and his wife, Abby, are adapting the book “In the Blood: How Two Outsiders Solved a Centuries-Old Medical Mystery and Took on the US Army,” as a feature film with Star Thrower Entertainment.  For the record, Joey and I have known one another for many years having graduated together from UCLA's famed MFA in Screenwriting program. 

The author, ghostwriter, copywriter, and freelance editor, Megan Woodward recently published her beautifully written and illustrated debut picture book, This Book is Definitely Not Cursed, which is published by Simon and Schuster. She's also the author of the forthcoming book, Jake Maddox Dance, Gymnastics, and Cheerleading Jokes. Megan specializes in all things humorous and finds no greater joy than making kids laugh. She's also a produced comedy screenwriter and the scriptwriter for the Chicago Thanksgiving Parade. Megan holds an MFA in screenwriting from UCLA, where, for the record, Megan she I met while in school together. When she's not writing, or procrastinating from writing, you can find her cooking, hiking, singing, laughing or working part time at a children's bookstore called Green Bean Books. For all those reasons and many more, I'm so very happy to welcome to StoryBeat today my friend, the very funny writer, Megan Woodward. Megan, welcome to the show… Twitter and Instagram @womeganwowww.meganwoodward.com

Madolyn Smith Osborne had the kind of fairy tale show business beginning that most can only fantasize about. While still in school at The University of Southern California, she won her first paycheck with a serendipitous audition before famed choreographer, Gower Champion, when a lead dancer and understudy had to be replaced in the Broadway-bound production of Pal Joey starring Lena Horne.  Madolyn's passion for musical theater as well as her training with beloved choreographers Bill and Jacqui Landrum, prepared her well for the opportunity. A year later, on the eve of graduating from USC's School of Dramatic Arts., her mentor, the late, iconic theatre and film producer and Academy Award-winning actor, John Houseman, launched a swan song of sorts for her with a production of Shakespeare's All's Well That Ends Well, in which Madolyn starred in the role of Helena. Mr. Houseman had invited various industry professionals to see the show in the 99-seat Stop Gap Theater on campus, including his former protege, film director, Jim Bridges, who, upon seeing Madolyn's performance, invited her to play the role of John Travolta's mistress, Pam, in the cult classic, Urban Cowboy. Madolyn went on to give multiple award-winning performances in the L.A. theater scene. Among her triumphs, she created the title role of Emily in Stephen Metcalfe's play of the same name, which was directed by the renowned producer-director, Jack O'Brien, during its premiere at San Diego's revered Old Globe Theatre.  When Madolyn was studying with legendary actress, Kim Stanley, and opera singer, Gloria Lane, she became a founding member of L.A. Theatre Works.  Madolyn also enjoyed a terrific TV and film career in which she found herself starring in features opposite the likes of no less than Steve Martin in All of Me, Roy Scheider in 2010: The Year We Make Contact, Chevy Chase in Funny Farm, Joe Pesci in The Super, and in TV shows like Due South, Cheers, If Tomorrow Comes, and Sadat. But at the height of her powers, all of that was abruptly interrupted by a chronic illness that she fights to this day.Madolyn resides in Toronto, Canada with her husband, former NHL hockey great, Mark Osborne, and 2 adult daughters who live nearby.            For the record, Madolyn and I have known one another for more years than either of us will admit, having met and worked together on a few productions while we were both in drama school at the USC. 

The great director, Rob Marshall, has made numerous films that have been honored with a total of 30 Academy Award nominations — winning 9 in all, including Best Picture for “Chicago,” which alone won a total of 6 of those Oscars. Also, for “Chicago,” Rob received the Directors Guild Award, and nominations for Best Director for the Oscar, Golden Globe and BAFTA awards. Additionally, he won Best Directorial Debut from the National Board of Review and the New York Film Critics Online, as well as the American Choreography Award.  Most recently, Rob directed and produced the live-action feature, “The Little Mermaid” for Disney, starring Halle Bailey, Melissa McCarthy and Javier Bardem. Rob's other directorial achievements include multiple nominations for award-winning features like: “Memoirs of a Geisha,” “Nine,” “Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides,” which went on to gross over 1 billion dollars worldwide, “Into the Woods,” and “Mary Poppins Returns.”Rob executive produced, directed, and choreographed the NBC TV event “Tony Bennett: An American Classic,” for which he won his second Directors Guild Award. He's also won 3 Emmys for Direction, Choreography, and Outstanding Variety, Music or Comedy Special. He directed and choreographed the Disney/ABC movie musical “Annie,” which received 12 Emmy nominations and won the prestigious Peabody Award. For choreographing Annie, Rob also received an Emmy and an American Choreography Award. He's received the Humanitas Prize for co-writing Mary Poppins Returns, and other awards from the Art Directors Guild, the Cinema Audio Society, the Costume Designers Guild, as well as the Annie Award, the Hamilton Award, and the Chita Rivera Award.Rob's extensive stage work includes the Broadway productions of “Cabaret,” “Little Me,” “Victor/Victoria,” “Damn Yankees,” “She Loves Me,” “Company,” and “Kiss of the Spiderwoman.” He's been nominated six times for the Tony Award, and he's a George Abbott Award winner.For the record, Rob and I are both graduates of Taylor Allderdice High School here in Pittsburgh. Rob is also an alumni of Carnegie Mellon University's top-rated School of Drama.