Podcast appearances and mentions of alexandra delano

God in the harmony of voices mingling together in song; being a person of color in the white world of choral music; God shining down on her at the age of five; being raised by her mother while her father followed his music; Kwanzaa; and owning her own identity in the age of Black Lives Matter.   Dr. Zanaida Stewart Robles is an award-winning American composer, vocalist, and teacher. She is a fierce advocate for diversity and inclusion in music education and performance.  She is a performing arts instructor at Harvard-Westlake Upper School in Studio City, CA.  She is also the director of music at Neighborhood Unitarian Universalist Church in Pasadena, CA.  As a concert soprano soloist, studio vocalist for film and television, and professional ensemble singer, Dr. Robles has sung throughout the United States and the world. Her film, television, and video game credits include Glee, Tinkerbell: Pirate Fairy, Godzilla, Minions, Creed, The Lego Movie, Despicable Me 3, Star Wars: The Last Jedi, Venom, Smallfoot, Frozen 2, Underwater, Mulan, and Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War. Dr. Robles holds a Doctor of Musical Arts degree from the USC Thornton School of Music, a Master of Music degree from CSU Northridge, a Bachelor of Music degree from CSU Long Beach, and she is a graduate of the Los Angeles County High School for the Arts.   Zanaida's official website: Zanaida Stewart Robles Zanaida's Twitter: @znrobles Zanaida's Music: Zanaida on Soundcloud   Official Website: nicholasdagosto.com Instagram: @nicholasdagosto #GodsDelicateShow Twitter: @nicholasdagosto #GodsDelicateShow  LinkedIn: Nicholas D'Agosto  Music by Sean Whalen, Art by Alexandra Delano

On creating “God 101” with Julie Chen Moonves; the celebration of her Armenian identity and culture; the loss of her Jewish father as a child; “welcoming Jesus into her heart” as a grade schooler; a message and direction from her mother's spirit; and giving her husband a second chance after a botched first date.   Anita Vogel is a Correspondent and Anchor for the Fox New Channel, as well as an actor, voiceover artist, moderator and host.  A graduate of the University of Southern California with degrees in both Broadcast Journalism and Political Science, Anita spent ten years as a full-time anchor and correspondent at FOX.  As a contractor today, she flies all over the country delivering content for multiple news outlets.  As an actor you may have seen her on 911, The Last Ship and Rosewood.  She is based in Los Angeles and often lends her time to charities and community organizations as a host and speaker.   You can find Anita's show #God101 with Julie Chen Moonves and others on Instagram here: @juliechenmoonves #God101 on Instagram: #God101   Anita's Instagram: @anitajvogel Anita's Twitter: @anitajvogel   Official Website: nicholasdagosto.com Instagram: @nicholasdagosto #GodsDelicateShow Twitter: @nicholasdagosto #GodsDelicateShow  LinkedIn: Nicholas D'Agosto  Music by Sean Whalen, Art by Alexandra Delano

His grandmother as conduit to his ancestors and what is “holy”; deep reflections on slavery and his journey through “The Slave Letters”; the brutality and abuse of his parents and grandfather; the rejection of Christianity and his embrace of Buddhist practice; the release of guilt and a future bound up in kindness and beauty.   Michal Dawson Connor is an accomplished performer and composer of choral, chamber, and solo vocal works, with a particular emphasis on slave songs created before the Civil War. He was born in Jamestown, New York and is a proud alumnus of Carnegie-Mellon University and L'Ecole Hindemith in Vevey, Switzerland.  Mr. Connor's Broadway credits include featured performances in the Tony-Award winning productions of RAGTIME and SHOWBOAT as well as starring roles in productions of THE MOST HAPPY FELLA, BIG RIVER, and PORGY AND BESS. In addition to soloing on multiple occasions for President Ronald Reagan, he's immensely proud of performing for Archbishop Desmond Tutu, Reverend Billy Graham, Elizabeth Dole, and Admiral Michael Mullen. Mr. Connor is a published author of THE SLAVE LETTERS currently available on Amazon.com.  On network television, he was a guest star on FRIENDS, as well as several appearances on the Emmy-Award winning show: EXTREME MAKEOVER: HOME EDITION. Here's a link to Michal's project, THE SLAVE LETTERS: https://www.theslaveletters.com/about    Michal's Instagram: @michal.d.connor Michal's YouTube: Michal's Videos   Official Website: nicholasdagosto.com Instagram: @nicholasdagosto #GodsDelicateShow Twitter: @nicholasdagosto #GodsDelicateShow  LinkedIn: Nicholas D'Agosto  Music by Sean Whalen, Art by Alexandra Delano

Music as foundational to understanding the spiritual; being a religious skeptic while loving the church choir; how the pandemic freed her musical “beast”; reflections on the future death of her mother; the release of control and the glee that followed.   Majel Connery is a vocalist and composer with the NYC art/punk band Sky Creature, which recently released its Bear Mountain/Childworld double EP. On the side, she composes electro/acoustic music as a solo artist, and recently released the album “The Rivers are Our Brothers,” a song cycle on the natural world. The male choir Chanticleer recently commissioned an arrangement of The Rivers are Our Brothers for their fall 2023 tour. Connery has a background as a Classical pianist and opera singer. For ten years, she ran avant-garde opera company, Opera Cabal. An artist with a Ph.D. in musicology, she has held visiting professorships and artist residency positions at Princeton, Berkeley, Stanford, Wellesley and the University of Chicago. Here's another link to Majel's new art/punk band, Sky Creature: https://www.skycreature.nyc/    Majel's official website: https://www.majelconnery.com/ Majel's Instagram: @majelconnery   Official Website: nicholasdagosto.com Instagram: @nicholasdagosto #GodsDelicateShow Twitter: @nicholasdagosto #GodsDelicateShow  LinkedIn: Nicholas D'Agosto  Music by Sean Whalen, Art by Alexandra Delano

Nick will be recurring throughout the new season of Criminal Minds: Evolution, premiering this Thanksgiving 2022 on Paramount+! Nick is in graduate school pursuing his Masters of Divinity at Meadville Lombard Theological School.  It's one of only two Unitarian Universalist seminaries in the world. What is Unitarian Universalism?   Official Website: nicholasdagosto.com Instagram: @nicholasdagosto #GodsDelicateShow Twitter: @nicholasdagosto #GodsDelicateShow  LinkedIn: Nicholas D'Agosto  Music by Sean Whalen, Art by Alexandra Delano

A "goodbye for now", and excerpts from two of Nick's favorite books. Nicholas D'Agosto is a professional television, film and stage actor, and the creator and host of this podcast - God & Other Delicacies. Here's a link to Gore Vidal's review of Italo Calvino's "Invisible Cities" in The New York Review of Books - Fabulous Calvino by Gore VidalHere is an article in The New Yorker compiling some of Italo Calvino's letters, one of which was a letter of appreciation to Gore Vidal regarding the aforementioned review Vidal wrote of "Invisible Cities - The Letters of Italo CalvinoAnd, if you desire, here is a link to choose where you'd like to purchase... Brian Browne Walker's translation of the Tao Te Ching of Lao Tzu. Official Website: nicholasdagosto.comInstagram: @nicholasdagosto #GodsDelicateShowTwitter: @nicholasdagosto #GodsDelicateShow LinkedIn: Nicholas D'Agosto Music by Sean Whalen, Art by Alexandra Delano

A Christ follower that's wary of the word "Christian", the transcendent final moments with her mother, Top Story Tonight: Jesus! and how her research has redefined her faith, and the contentment that comes with knowing and choosing what is right for oneself. Jane Wells is an award-winning broadcast journalist with over 30 years experience in the news media.  She has worked all over the country, moving up from local news stations to national ones, but it is at CNBC, her current employer, where she has spent the bulk of her career, developing features, special reports and contributing to breaking news coverage.  Jane received a Peabody in 1992 for her role in the live coverage of the Rodney King trial. She is also a podcaster, having developed the Strange Success franchise for CNBC, and now self-producing her new podcast, the Top Story Tonight! franchise - the latest iteration of which focuses on Jesus, with Jane's modern media twist.  Get started with the first episode of Top Story Tonight: Jesus! here, at this iTunes link -- Top Story Tonight: Jesus! Christmas Part 1 Jane's Twitter: @janewellsJane's Instagram: @janewellsJane's Facebook: Jane WellsJane's Linkedin: Jane Wells Official Website: nicholasdagosto.comInstagram: @nicholasdagosto #GodsDelicateShowTwitter: @nicholasdagosto #GodsDelicateShow LinkedIn: Nicholas D'Agosto Music by Sean Whalen, Art by Alexandra Delano

Being religious but not spiritual, the search for serenity, learning about his OCD, reflections on the temptations and dangers of "status", choosing the internal good, the admiration of material indifference and non-attachment, and the dilemma of loving the individual despite possessing opposing ideologies. Jeffrey Guhin is an Assistant Professor of Sociology at UCLA, with research interests in education, culture and religion.  His first book -- Agents Of God: Boundaries and Authority in Muslim and Christian Schools -- has just been released through Oxford University Press.  Jeff received his doctorate and masters degrees from Yale University, his bachelors from Loyola University in New Orleans, and he has studied in Damascus, Syria, and Mexico City, Mexico.  Here's a link to Jeff's new book... Agents Of God: Boundaries and Authority in Muslim and Christian SchoolsAnd here's a link to Jeff's writings for SLATE, including the one he mentioned about Neil deGrasse Tyson: Jeffrey Guhin at SLATE Jeff's Official Website: jeffguhin.comJeff's Twitter: @jeffguhin Official Website: nicholasdagosto.comInstagram: @nicholasdagosto #GodsDelicateShowTwitter: @nicholasdagosto #GodsDelicateShow LinkedIn: Nicholas D'Agosto Music by Sean Whalen, Art by Alexandra Delano

Owner of award-winning Hotville Chicken in South LA, daughter of an Evangelist preacher, God in every facet of her life, prayer, and hilarious stories about the Prince Family men and other philanderers who got punished by the scalding heat of the Hot Chicken tradition in Nashville.    Kim Prince is the owner and creator of Hotville Chicken, a Los Angeles restaurant serving Nashville Hot Chicken in the Baldwin Hills Crenshaw neighborhood of South LA.  Recently voted one of LA's Best Restaurants of 2020 by Los Angeles Magazine, Hotville is also partnered with Greg Dulan of Dulan's Soul Food Restaurants (who was a previous guest on this podcast).  Kim's great-great Uncle, Thornton Prince, is credited with having invented the Hot Chicken recipe and tradition in Nashville, and the Prince Family has been serving Nashville Hot Chicken for nearly 100 years.  Kim is a graduate of Fresno State University, and she previously worked for over 20 years in television production.   Looking for a deep history on the Prince Family and the origins of Nashville Hot Chicken?  Check out this excellent article in The New Yorker: The Prince Family BusinessPrince's Hot Chicken - the original Nashville restaurant that Kim grew up working at, and from which she brought the recipe to LA - was named: One of America's 38 Essential Restaurants by Eater Hotville Instagram: @hotvillechickenHotville Twitter: @hotvillechickenOfficial Website: Hotville Chicken Official Website: nicholasdagosto.comInstagram: @nicholasdagosto #GodsDelicateShowTwitter: @nicholasdagosto #GodsDelicateShow LinkedIn: Nicholas D'Agosto Music by Sean Whalen, Art by Alexandra Delano

Faith in combat, reflections on his service during the Iraq War, the self-discoveries from time spent "in extremis", and the unintended consequences of war. Ben O'Rourke is a retired Marine Lieutenant Colonel, a combat veteran, and a graduate of the US Army War College.  He graduated from Notre Dame, and currently serves as an executive for an enterprise tech company in Los Angeles, where he lives with his wife and children. Here is a brief overview regarding the Iraq War, which Ben describes throughout this episode from his unique vantage point: The Iraq War (or Second Persian Gulf War)An article discussing Viktor Frankl's book, which Ben found at a deeply poignant moment in his journey: Man's Search For Meaning  Ben's Facebook: Ben O'RourkeBen's LinkedIn: Ben O'Rourke Official Website: nicholasdagosto.comInstagram: @nicholasdagosto #GodsDelicateShowTwitter: @nicholasdagosto #GodsDelicateShow LinkedIn: Nicholas D'Agosto Music by Sean Whalen, Art by Alexandra Delano

Owner of Dulan's Soul Food Restaurants in South LA on being a Los Angeles institution and community touchstone, the life and death of his renowned father, the challenges of being a business owner in South LA, the spiritual calling that is his work, and selling Nashville fried chicken in Ghana! Greg Dulan is the owner of Dulan's Soul Food Restaurants in South Los Angeles, well-regarded as a Los Angeles soul food institution.  He is also co-owner of Hotville Chicken, which serves Nashville Hot Fried Chicken in South LA, and was rated one of the Best Restaurants of 2020 by Los Angeles Magazine.  Greg has a business degree from Howard University, has studied at UCLA, and is a beloved community member and leader. At one point, Greg describes how his Grandfather was a Baptist Minister, and a master "Whooper".  He made me promise that I would look up some whooping online, and I gave him my word that I'd leave a link here for everyone to get an idea about what it is: The Art of WhoopingAnd here's an article from the LA Sentinel, honoring the life of Greg's father, Adolf Dulan, LA's "King of Soul Food": Los Angeles Mourns the Loss of Adolf DulanAnd another, reporting on how Dulan's was recognized as as a Best Small Business by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Dulan's Soul Food Instagram: @dulanssoulfoodkitchenDulan's Restaurant on Crenshaw Instagram: @dulansoncrenshawHotville Chicken's Instagram: @hotvillechicken Official Website: nicholasdagosto.comInstagram: @nicholasdagosto #GodsDelicateShowTwitter: @nicholasdagosto #GodsDelicateShow LinkedIn: Nicholas D'Agosto Music by Sean Whalen, Art by Alexandra Delano

The dangers of "coming out" as a celebrity in the '90's, how cancer taught him to be joyful, how the USO changed his mind on the military, and the discovery of his current sense of purpose. Bill Brochtrup is a professional television, film and stage actor, best known for his role as "John Irvin" in ABC's critically-acclaimed hit series, NYPD BLUE.  He has also had long-running roles on hit shows like Showtime's "Shameless", and TNT's "Major Crimes", among dozens of other credits in television and film.  A prolific stage actor, Bill is also Co-Artistic Director of The Antaeus Theatre Company in Glendale, CA.  He works with numerous charities and philanthropic organizations, including AIDS Walks, and the USO and Armed Forces Entertainment. On the 5th Anniversary of his being free from cancer, Bill participated in an ancient spiritual pilgrimage in Northern Spain that is still alive today: Camino De Santiago To learn more about the United Service Organizations: USOTo learn more about Armed Forces Entertainment: AFE Bill's Instagram: @billbrochtrupBill's Twitter: @billbrochtrupBill's Facebook: Bill Brochtrup Official Website: nicholasdagosto.comInstagram: @nicholasdagosto #GodsDelicateShowTwitter: @nicholasdagosto #GodsDelicateShow LinkedIn: Nicholas D'Agosto Music by Sean Whalen, Art by Alexandra Delano

Vietnam, racism and desegregation in the '60's, the early deaths of his sister and father, the dawn of his agnosticism and the value in pursuing what is "dangerous and alive". Ned Schmidtke is a professional television, film and stage actor with a resumé spanning decades.  He has had long-running roles on shows like Medium, Days of Our Lives, Point Pleasant, and JAG.  His film roles include Wedding Crashers, The Change Up and Accepted.  He's appeared on Broadway, in Chicago at the Goodman and Steppenwolf, and in theaters all across the country. Ned tells a story of getting to see Ike and Tina Turner performing live at the Paradise Club in Missouri when he was a young man.  Here's a picture from one of those legendary performances (note the low ceiling!): Ike and Tina Turner at Club Paradise Ned's Facebook: Ned Schmidtke Official Website: nicholasdagosto.comInstagram: @nicholasdagosto #GodsDelicateShowTwitter: @nicholasdagosto #GodsDelicateShow LinkedIn: Nicholas D'Agosto Music by Sean Whalen, Art by Alexandra Delano

Losing a sister at birth, merging Catholic and Mormon faiths, sons with epilepsy and Coats' disease, her charity Know the Glow, and the relationship to faith that she hopes her children will carry with them. Megan Webber is the Co-Founder of the non-profit charity Know the Glow, which aims to eliminate early childhood blindness.  Megan launched Know the Glow after her son, Benjamin, was diagnosed with Coats' Disease in 2009.  Megan also sits on the Advisory Board of The Vision Center at Children's Hospital Los Angeles, and works to support the doctors and patients there through the volunteer organization, Bright Eyes.  Here is a link to learn more about...: Coats DiseaseAnd, Megan is a big fan of the...: Peloton Bike Megan Webber's LinkedIn: Megan Lynch WebberKnow the Glow's Instagram: @know_the_glowKnow the Glow's Twitter: @know_the_glow Official Website: nicholasdagosto.comInstagram: @nicholasdagosto #GodsDelicateShowTwitter: @nicholasdagosto #GodsDelicateShow LinkedIn: Nicholas D'Agosto Music by Sean Whalen, Art by Alexandra Delano

The difficulty of leaving his Evangelical faith and family, the similarities of atheism and fundamentalism, doubt, confusion, regret, new life, and the love of music and writing. Jonathan Buchanan works in film production, and has been a prop master since 2007.  He is also a musician, and he writes, sings and plays guitar in his anti-folk band Campfire Cassettes.   Listen to his music on Spotify: Campfire Cassettes Jonathan introduced me to a term that was core to his Evangelical belief system growing up: Eternal SecurityJonathan briefly references a famous Christian songwriter I had never heard of before, Keith Green, who died in a tragic plane crash at 28.  Listen to Keith Green on Spotify  Jonathan's Instagram: @jonathanbuchanancomedyCampfire Cassettes Instagram: @campfirecassettes Official Website: nicholasdagosto.comInstagram: @nicholasdagosto #GodsDelicateShowTwitter: @nicholasdagosto #GodsDelicateShow LinkedIn: Nicholas D'Agosto Music by Sean Whalen, Art by Alexandra Delano

Reflections on suffering, God's apparent absence and/or disregard, death, the moment he decided to become a Jesuit, and the intersection of art and spirituality. Joe Hoover, SJ is a religious brother in the Society of Jesus, or the Jesuits, working primarily in the arts.  He is an actor, playwright and essayist, and his first book - "O Death, Where Is Thy Sting: A Meditation on Suffering" - will be released December of 2020 from Orbis Books.  He is also the poetry editor at America Magazine.   At one point, Joe mentions one of his early heroes: Dorothy Day, a progressive Catholic activist.Here is a link describing one of the cornerstones of Jesuit training: The Spiritual Exercises of St. IgnatiusAnd for good measure, once again, his new book: "O Death, Where Is Thy Sting: A Meditation on Suffering" from Orbis Books Joe's Facebook: Joe Hoover Official Website: nicholasdagosto.comInstagram: @nicholasdagosto #GodsDelicateShowTwitter: @nicholasdagosto #GodsDelicateShow LinkedIn: Nicholas D'Agosto Music by Sean Whalen, Art by Alexandra Delano

Utkarsh Ambudkar (The Mindy Project, Pitch Perfect, Barbershop: The Next Cut, Free Guy, Marry Me) is a professional actor, writer, rapper and musician.  A South-Asian American of Indian descent, born in Maryland to immigrant parents who are both progressive scientists as well as quiet practitioners of prayer, Utkarsh possesses a unique perspective on spirituality and culture.  He is also charming, funny, kind, quick-witted and thoughtful, which makes for a delightful and insightful episode between these two old friends (who met on the set of the film Rocket Science 15 years ago).Utkarsh has done a great deal of positive self-reflection, and he speaks reverently about the spiritual growth and awareness he has achieved after giving up drugs and alcohol and articulating and accepting a loving God-force into his day-to-day.  He speaks about the different religious worlds both in India and the U.S. that have been available to him throughout his upbringing, and yet somehow were never imposed upon him.  He speaks about his love and proclivity for music and rhyme, what that meant to him growing up, and what it means to him today.  And he also makes Nick laugh many times throughout the episode, the loudest of which probably came after he revealed to Nick what his quiet, loving God-voice said to him after his cable went down.  It's a beautiful episode, and I hope you enjoy it. Utkarsh is a successful and prolific independent musician, with two new albums set to drop in the next six months or so.  Find him at the following link, or wherever you get your music: Utkarsh on SpotifyAlso, Utkarsh mentions how his grandmother is a practitioner of Jainism.  Here's a link describing some of the basic tenets of the Jain belief system: Jainism at a Glance Utkarsh's Instagram: @utktheincUtkarsh's Twitter: @utktheinc Official Website: nicholasdagosto.comInstagram: @nicholasdagosto #GodsDelicateShowTwitter: @nicholasdagosto #GodsDelicateShow LinkedIn: Nicholas D'Agosto Music by Sean Whalen, Art by Alexandra Delano

Kitty Swink (The Fosters, Crossing Jordan, Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, Patty Hearst, In The Mood) is a professional actor, and Co-Artistic Director of The Antaeus Theatre Company (where I am a member).  Kitty opens a window for us into her nuclear family, and the extraordinary pairing that was her father and mothers' marriage.  With deep affection, charm and lots of humor, Kitty tells about her mothers' final days, spent at home in the embrace of her loving family.  What is captured in her telling is the poignant, sweet, authentic, hilarious, ludicrous, magical and mysterious nature of the final moments of a human life. Kitty opens up about the complexities of her fathers' last years too, as well as her own brushes with death, having now been a cancer survivor twice over.  It is a sublime hour, spent in reverence for life, and in meditation on what gives it meaning.   Kitty speaks about a healing art that she credits, alongside the work of her oncologists, with saving her life after cancer and bringing her back to full health: Jin Shin Jyutsu At one point, Kitty tells a heartwarming story about me and one of her dear friends and mentors who passed away in 2013: Joe Ruskin Kitty's Facebook: Kitty SwinkKitty's Twitter: @KitSwinkKitty's Instagram: @kittyswink Official Website: nicholasdagosto.comInstagram: @nicholasdagosto #GodsDelicateShowTwitter: @nicholasdagosto #GodsDelicateShow LinkedIn: Nicholas D'Agosto Music by Sean Whalen, Art by Alexandra Delano

John Apicella (The Call of the Wild, Seinfeld, Freaks and Geeks, Twin Peaks, Friends, The West Wing) is a professional actor, and a fellow (and founding) member of The Antaeus Theatre Company (which is how we met).  John opens a window for us into his childhood and early adulthood from the vantage point of the man grown wiser from that lived experience.  In turns sweet and sad, and always compellingly honest, John shares the regrets he has, and the remorse he feels, for some early mistakes he wishes he could take back.  But what emerges from the painful process of taking responsibility for his past actions is an artist with an ethos oriented toward "Living in Truth", and a man whose spirituality is framed by love, connection, and community.  John has a deep love for the transformative power of theatre, and here is a link to an article about one of his favorite playwrights and activists: The great Václav Havel   At one point, John delights me by introducing me to an old profession which was still around when he was a kid in Chicago: The Ragpicker John's Facebook: John Apicella Official Website: nicholasdagosto.comInstagram: @nicholasdagosto #GodsDelicateShowTwitter: @nicholasdagosto #GodsDelicateShow LinkedIn: Nicholas D'Agosto Music by Sean Whalen, Art by Alexandra Delano

Joslyn DeFreece (Strange Angel, Daily Show, Comedy Central, CNN) is an actor, writer, and Trans activist.  Joslyn tells a heart-wrenching and deeply compelling story about the evolution of her life, her spirituality, and her transgender identity.  It is a story marked by moments of extraordinary pain, fostered in part by the shame she endured from the community around her as she struggled to fit what made her "different" into the norms of her society.  Her battles with suicide, addiction, and depression thankfully give over to a life filled with healing artistic expression, self-confidence, love and hope.  It is an absolutely remarkable and inspiring conversation, and I cannot express enough how grateful I am for her willingness to share so openly and vulnerably about her life, her faith, and her transition.  It is a wonderful and powerful (50th) episode.      Here are some links to definitions regarding some key gender terms:CisgenderTransgenderNon-BinaryJoslyn performed in the inaugural "Pride Players" show (now celebrating 21 years!) in Omaha, NE at The Rose Theater.  Here's their link: Pride Players  Joslyn's Instagram: @joslyn.defreece Joslyn's Twitter: @defreecejoslyn LGBTQ Instagram: @lgbtq Official Website: nicholasdagosto.comInstagram: @nicholasdagosto #GodsDelicateShowTwitter: @nicholasdagosto #GodsDelicateShow LinkedIn: Nicholas D'Agosto Music by Sean Whalen, Art by Alexandra Delano

Fatima Djelmane Rodriguez is the Executive Director of Camp Ronald McDonald for Good Times, a non-profit charity which works to create a positive, long-lasting impact on children with cancer and their families by providing fun, safe, cost-free, year round camp programs.  And since September is Childhood Cancer Awareness Month, there couldn't be a more fitting guest for this week's show.Fatima reveals a spiritual journey that has always had faith at the center of it, but which found its' ultimate expression in causes of social justice and activism rather than traditional dogma or religious academia.  She also has a marked grace, calm, and sense of humor as she unveils what is at times a tumultuous and fractured childhood.  Born to a Father of Muslim faith, and a Catholic Mother, a religiously-minded Fatima not only had to navigate the complexities of that faith dichotomy, but act as the go-between for parents who divorced before she entered high school.  She speaks about the years of silence between her father and herself, and their ultimate reconciliation on matters of faith.  And she talks about her love for being a part of a profession focused on healing and connection, and how much it means to her to have found her beloved community and home in Boyle Heights.    Here are links to a few Boyle Heights institutions that are dear to Fatima's heart:Dolores Mission Church Proyecto PastoralHomeboy Industries Fatima's Instagram: @fatima_d Official Website: nicholasdagosto.comInstagram: @nicholasdagosto #GodsDelicateShowTwitter: @nicholasdagosto #GodsDelicateShow LinkedIn: Nicholas D'Agosto Music by Sean Whalen, Art by Alexandra Delano

Jeff Newburg is a therapist, a lifelong artist, and an old friend of Nick's from their days in a Meisner acting program back when they were in their twenties.  Jeff's latest creative focus has been the completion of his first novel - Shame Baseball - which tackles Christian faith deconstruction.  Jeff at one time identified as an Evangelical, and Born Again Christian.  Through an immense amount of personal work and growth, and illuminated by fatherhood, his mothers' death and his recent divorce, Jeff has left his previous Church home and embarked on an entirely new life journey.  It's an extraordinary share, confident and vulnerable and kind, and there's even a moment so unexpected and sincere it knocks Nick for a loop.  It was a genuine joy and honor to reconnect, and listen to his story.   Here's where you can buy Jeff's book!: Shame Baseball (There will be an audiobook too!)And here's a link to the Johnny Cash song Jeff and I talk about in the episode: If I Give My Soul (written by Billy Joe Shaver, from the Unearthed Box Set) Jeff's Twitter: @JeffNewburgJeff's Instagram: @JeffNewburgJeff's Official Website: Jeffrey Newburg Official Website: nicholasdagosto.comInstagram: @nicholasdagosto #GodsDelicateShowTwitter: @nicholasdagosto #GodsDelicateShow LinkedIn: Nicholas D'Agosto Music by Sean Whalen, Art by Alexandra Delano

Deb Richard is a five-time LPGA Tour Champion, an executive coach, a philanthropist, the CEO of Burlap Leaders, and the author of "Trust: Understanding My Why," which translates the lessons of golf into successful pathways in leading.  Deb is deeply passionate about inspiring people to realize their inherent value and discover a purpose in life that is focused on helping others as much as it is spiritually self-enriching. Driven in her youth by an overwhelming desire to achieve her dream of becoming a champion golfer, she could not have foreseen that it was the very achievement of that dream that would lead to a transformation of her life's purpose and values.  Deb tells the story of the dramatic moment when she retired from professional golf, as well as the painful experience that came not long after her retirement when she realized she would have to leave the LPGA completely, and embark on an entirely new personal and professional life journey.  It's an inspiring listen, full of enduring faith outside of any religious context, and it was an honor to listen to her journey. Here is a link to the charity youth camp in Rochester, NY, that made such a transformative impression on Deb as a young golfer: Rochester Rotary Sunshine Campus Deb's LinkedIn: Deb Richard Deb's Twitter: @BurlapDeb Official Website: nicholasdagosto.comInstagram: @nicholasdagosto #GodsDelicateShowTwitter: @nicholasdagosto #GodsDelicateShow LinkedIn: Nicholas D'Agosto Music by Sean Whalen, Art by Alexandra Delano

Randy J. Goodwin is a professional television and film actor (Showtime's "Fast Track", UPN's "Girlfriends", Greys Anatomy, 911, American History X), as well as a writer, director and producer.  He's also a man of deep faith, with a long spiritual journey that at times represented his greatest obstacle, and at others his greatest source of strength.  Raised in a Pentecostal Church in Omaha, Nebraska (Randy and I are both alumni of Creighton Preparatory School), Randy's early dreams were stonewalled by the overbearing rules laid down by his faith community.  Today, after two divorces, a tragic separation from two of his children, and having finally severed ties with that negative early church influence, Randy is more content and creatively inspired than at any point in his life.  It is a passionate and heartfelt story, full of surprising twists and turns.  It was an honor to be on the ride.   Here's an in depth article explaining the historical value and meaning of the family-owned barbershop Randy mentioned in the show: Goodwin's Spencer St. Barber Shop Here's an article about "The Tragic Title Fight That Changed Boxing", which was an inspiration for Randy's movie "The Job": Kim Duk-Koo v. Ray "Boom Boom" ManciniAnd finally, here's a link to Saddleback Church, home of Pastor Rick Warren, where Randy is a faithful member: Saddleback Church   Randy's Instagram: @randyjgoodwin  Randy's Official: rjgood.com Official Website: nicholasdagosto.comInstagram: @nicholasdagosto #GodsDelicateShowTwitter: @nicholasdagosto #GodsDelicateShow  Music by Sean Whalen, Art by Alexandra Delano

A commercial, music video and short film producer for over 15 years (Elton John, Paul McCartney, Kelly Clarkson, Gatorade, Google, Beats by Dre, "Atlanta", "Neighbors"), Joshua Martinez has one of those stories that's almost too incredible to believe.  Telling it for the first time ever publicly, Josh's story is enthralling, mystifying, heart-wrenching and hopeful.  Josh's mother is a faith-healer, exorcist, and preacher who moved her family constantly throughout his youth, interpreting her dreams as literal messages from God which often told her to begin her ministry again in a new place.  Her dreams told her many other things too, things that it took Josh years to unravel and understand.  It is an astounding life journey, and Josh tells it compassionately, openly, kindly, and with forgiveness.  It is an honor to share it with you, and it's not one to miss.  Josh was raised in the world of televangelists.  Here are links to videos of the preachers he mentions in the show:    Benny Hinn  Kenneth Hagin  John Osteen  & Kenneth Copeland (a Covid-19 classic)    Josh's Official Website: producedbyjosh.com  Josh's Instagram: @joshmartinez83      Official Website: nicholasdagosto.com  Instagram: @nicholasdagosto  Twitter: @nicholasdagosto  Music by Sean Whalen, Art by Alexandra Delano

Michael J. has worked primarily as a television, film and stage writer (Drunk History, Dog Bites Man, Viral on Full Screen, the original Vice Studios), but he also has two graduate degrees (University of Michigan and Pepperdine University), has worked as a tour guide in Rome, started his own theatre company in Los Angeles with friends, and speaks fluent Polish (he moved to the States with his parents when he was two years old).  Michael shares about how his Grandmother introduced him to the idea of God, what it was like to be an immigrant and only child born to parents who were also both only children, and how he found sobriety.  But the event that stopped time for him, and is now the dominant and guiding force of his life, was his diagnosis with brain cancer in 2016.  To be the listener on the receiving end of Michael's story, as he reflected openly on the journey and state of his life, was a genuine honor.  His sincere and humble message of gratitude for each day of life we are given is profoundly moving, and the wisdom he shares regarding how our power resides only in our reaction to life events is deeply impactful.  This conversation meant a great deal to me.  I hope you'll find it equally as resonant. Michael has honed a skill I very much desire - the consistent production of the perfectly hard-boiled egg.  Someday I will be the student to his master, and learn his ways.  Until then, here's a recipe that'll probably get you close enough: Hard Boiled Eggs Michael J's Facebook: Michael Jedrzejewski Official Website: nicholasdagosto.comInstagram: @nicholasdagosto #GodsDelicateShowTwitter: @nicholasdagosto #GodsDelicateShow  Music by Sean Whalen, Art by Alexandra Delano

Eric Blume (Writer/Director/Producer at Comedy Central, Netflix, truTV, Funny Or Die!, Cartoon Network; Commercial Director for J. Crew, L'Oreal, Axe) is the guest this week, and he and Nick are old friends, having met doing promotional stuff on Comedy Central for FIRED UP (a long time ago).  Eric was raised in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania as a Roman Catholic, although he doesn't practice the tradition today.  He has affection for his Catholic education, and a loving relationship with his mother who still practices it, but Eric shares that he just never really connected deeply with the faith.  Nor did he appreciate the rejection and judgement from the Church that came along with his being gay.  Eric opens up about his difficult relationship with his father, the scare he went through when his husband David was diagnosed with cancer, and why comedy is more than just laughs.  Eric is funny, irreverent, kind, generous and revealing throughout the conversation, which makes for a special episode.  It was a joy to dig in with an old friend.   At one point we discuss the mystery of the Catholic Trinity, and the difficult to discern nature of the Holy Ghost/Holy Spirit.  Here's a link that emphasizes the Holy Spirit as being a God-person: Who Is The Holy Spirit? Looking for a deeper dive?: Explaining the TrinityAnd here is a link to works by the poetry professor Eric speaks of warmly in the episode: Bruce Weigl Eric's Official Website: theericblume.comEric's Instagram: @theericblume Official Website: nicholasdagosto.comInstagram: @nicholasdagosto #GodsDelicateShowTwitter: @nicholasdagosto #GodsDelicateShow  Music by Sean Whalen, Art by Alexandra Delano

Actor, singer and Broadway star Krysta Rodriguez (Stage: In The Heights, The Addams Family, First Date, Spring Awakening... Screen: Smash, Chasing Life, Quantico, Daybreak) generously hops on the phone with Nick from her place in New York City, and she tells a powerful story about her evolution of faith, and the physical and spiritual transformation she undertook after battling breast cancer at just 30 years old.  Nick and Krysta became friends during their time on Trial & Error together, but they actually met a few years before that on a pilot, just a few months before Krysta would get her cancer diagnosis.  It's an extraordinary journey to listen to, and Krysta is funny, honest, raw, revealing and self-assured as she confidently guides us through her faith and doubt, the centering existential threat of cancer, and the self-revelations of her survival.  It's an absolute honor to share her story with you. At one point, Krysta speaks about the blog she wrote regarding her year battling cancer.  Here's the link: ChemoCouture  And here is a link to a powerful interview with Krysta (fit with a tweet and picture of the two of us from Trial & Error) where she talks about what womanhood means in the face of cancer and chemotherapy: TheBreastCancerSite.com   Finally, and gleefully, here is the link to an episode of the Christian Kids' TV show that Krysta performed on when she was oh so young: Colby's Clubhouse (Note: I chose this one because Krysta has the starring storyline of the episode, even though the film quality is gritty; but there's a wealth of great Krysta stuff all over these episodes, and it is delightful to watch how her talent stands out next to her peers.)   Krysta's Instagram: @krysta_rod Official Website: nicholasdagosto.comInstagram: @nicholasdagosto #GodsDelicateShowTwitter: @nicholasdagosto #GodsDelicateShow  Music by Sean Whalen, Art by Alexandra Delano

Nick's dear friend, John Bobek (A Series Of Unfortunate Events, American Crime, The West Wing, singer-songwriter), visits the show this week, and he shares about the spirituality he finds in music, his father's battle with Parkinson's Disease, and the loss of his mother eight years ago.  Nick and John met as theatre students at Marquette University in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and their friendship has blossomed over the 15+ years they've spent together in Los Angeles.  The easy familiarity of the conversation reflects that, but that doesn't mean Nick wasn't surprised by many of the new things he discovered about his old friend.  It's a deeply heartfelt episode, full of love and affection for life and family and art, and it's an honor to share his story with you.  (p.s. Be sure to stay for the Easter Egg at the end of the episode to learn how John got his nickname...)  John's been making beer bread.  Here's a link to a recipe: NYT CookingAt one point, John shares about his affection for a brilliant mathematical discovery (from the Middle Ages) regarding patterns in everyday life and nature... here's a link: The Fibonacci SequenceJohn is inspired by the idea that energy cannot be created nor destroyed and, because of that, a part of everyone who has ever lived still exists in some form on Earth today.  Here's a link to an article that speaks to this idea, and the comfort it may provide: The Physics of DeathFinally, I used to do a goofy YouTube series with my buddy, Evan Gaustad.  Here's a link to an episode that featured John: Unhistorical Skypenactments John's Instagram: @jonbonjobekJohn's Bandcamp for Music: John BobekJohn's Twitter: @johnbobek Official Website: nicholasdagosto.comInstagram: @nicholasdagosto #GodsDelicateShowTwitter: @nicholasdagosto #GodsDelicateShow  Music by Sean Whalen, Art by Alexandra Delano

Safiya Fredericks (Professional stage actor and singer, London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art, Bay Area Theatre Critics Circle Award Winner) joins Nick to speak eloquently and openly about two dominant, overarching forces in her life's journey thus far: Death and Race.  Born to a practically-minded Black mother from the South, and an artistically-minded "culture warrior" Black father from the North, Safiya has a unique and elevated perspective on race, and I am grateful for the conversation we shared as she unveiled her story against the backdrop of this current national moment of race awareness.  Spiritually, Safiya's journey is dictated not so much by the religion within which she was raised, but by the losses of loved ones she has suffered so early in her life.  Through the grief of these losses has come great self-discovery, and an acute awareness of the fragility and preciousness of our lives.  It's a compelling, heartfelt, enlightening and compassionate conversation.  I hope you enjoy it. At one point, Safiya speaks about her amazement that Tulsa, Oklahoma's "Black Wall Street" has entered mainstream awareness.  Here are two excellent articles about it, and the Tulsa Race Massacre of 1921:The Race Riot That Destroyed Black Wall Street - Official Black Wall StreetThe Bezos of Black Wall Street (with video) - ForbesHere is an article about Samuel's Art Gallery, an African American art gallery that was owned and run by Safiya's father for two decades: Samuel's Art GalleryAnd finally, here's a link to part of a stand-up set by Safiya's friend, comedian Kibibi Dillon, who was tragically killed in a car accident: Kibibi Dillon at Laughs Unlimited Safiya's Instagram: @safiyaf Official Website: nicholasdagosto.comInstagram: @nicholasdagosto #GodsDelicateShowTwitter: @nicholasdagosto #GodsDelicateShow  Music by Sean Whalen, Art by Alexandra Delano

Joe Holt (The Walking Dead: World Beyond, Law & Order, Scandal, Greys Anatomy) is on the show this week, and we're catching him at a rich and poignant moment in his life journey.  The son of a high-ranking, Black Air Force officer, Joe shares a unique perspective on the juxtaposition of where the qualities of confidence, character, aptitude and honor, meet with the insidious, painful and ugly realities of racism.  Born to a family of achievers and civil rights activists, and having moved with his family from New Jersey to Alabama when he was twelve, Joe speaks about the struggles he faced as his determination never to make excuses for himself met with the unyielding unfairnesses of being judged foremost by the color of his skin.  However, one place where he found an even playing field was in sports, and Joe shares eloquently about what it means to him to compete, and to do it in the context of a loving, team bond.  That same energy and love for family and community has fed him as an actor and artist, and his hard-earned wisdom from his journey of self-discovery has brought him to a present moment where, for the first real time in his life, he sees a sustainable future filled with good health, success, and joy.  (He's also really funny and we have a good breakfast bit.)     Here's a link to an astounding story of strength exhibited by Joe's father and family in the fight to desegregate schools in Raleigh, North Carolina: "Joe Holt, Jr.: The first student to challenge Raleigh's segregated schools"      Joe's Instagram: @joeholtactorJoe's Facebook: Joseph Holt Official Website: nicholasdagosto.comInstagram: @nicholasdagosto #GodsDelicateShowTwitter: @nicholasdagosto #GodsDelicateShow  Music by Sean Whalen, Art by Alexandra Delano

George Drance (Artist in Residence at Fordham University, Artistic Director of Magis Theatre Company in New York City, Resident Artist in La Mama's Great Jones Repertory Company) is a member of the Society of Jesus, a Roman Catholic order of priests most often referred to as Jesuits, founded by St. Ignatius de Loyola in 1540.  Jesuits are renowned for their educational and charitable works, in which Fr. Drance takes part, but his ministry and professional life have been defined by his work in the theatre.  Based in NYC, Fr. Drance has traveled the nation and the globe inspiring communities, fellow artists and students to think more deeply about the world they inhabit, and the possibilities that await us if we can orient ourselves to a greater sense of service to others.  I met Fr. Drance when he returned to Marquette University (where we are both alumni) and directed my classmates and myself in a world-premiere production of Calderón de la Barca's auto-sacramental play "Life Is A Dream", which Fr. Drance translated from the original Spanish.  As he did then, George left me with a deep impression of his artistic integrity, his rich faith in God, and his good sense of humor and charm (of particular fun is a reenactment of a conversation that features his native Long island accent).    Here is a link to the scene which George references from Babette's Feast: The General's ToastHere is a link to the bio of one of George's great mentors: Ellen Stewart... And a link to the memorial tribute of another: Elizabeth SwadosFinally, here is a link to an article regarding: The different rites of the Catholic ChurchGeorge's Instagram: @georgedrancesjGeorge's Facebook: George DranceMagis Theatre Instagram: @magistheatre Official Website: nicholasdagosto.comInstagram: @nicholasdagosto #GodsDelicateShowTwitter: @nicholasdagosto #GodsDelicateShow  Music by Sean Whalen, Art by Alexandra Delano

Dr. Judith Mayotte (internationally-esteemed humanitarian, author of "Disposable People? The Plight of Refugees", and Emmy-Award winning television producer for TBS' "Portrait of America") joins Nick on the phone to share a life story that is as improbable and adventurous as it is spiritual and profound.  Born in Kansas to a Protestant family where her father didn't participate in the faith, she was sent away to a Catholic boarding school at the age of four because she was, by her own admission, "such a pill."  This unorthodox beginning would foreshadow not only a life of Catholic service, but an extraordinary journey fueled by Judy's stalwart independence, her boundless energy, her moral certitude and her enthusiasm for living.  Her life at a glance: Stricken with polio as a teenager, she learned to walk again, became a Nun, left the convent to get her doctorate at Marquette University (my alma mater), would marry and then lose her husband just three years later to cancer, would enter television, would find herself working on behalf of international refugees in Africa where a tragic accident would cost her part of her leg, would enter the US government, and finally would dedicate her life to refugee education and the danger of climate catastrophe...  It is a life full of joy and hope in the face of tragedies and bearing to witness to great suffering, and it is an inspiring tale on how to cope with, and pivot off of, life's challenges and changes.  What an honor it was to listen to her story.  Something wild: It wasn't until after I had set up this interview (through our shared connection to Marquette University) that I realized as a student I had actually taken Dr. Mayotte's class on International Human Rights Law!   Also, here is a link to just one of the esteemed international organizations in which Judy has played a formative role: The Desmond Tutu Peace Foundation Official Website: nicholasdagosto.comInstagram: @nicholasdagosto #GodsDelicateShowTwitter: @nicholasdagosto #GodsDelicateShow  Music by Sean Whalen, Art by Alexandra Delano

Amanda Payton and Arsène DeLay - both previous guests on the podcast, and dear friends of Nick's - generously agreed to return to the show to discuss both the issue of race and how it has affected them directly in their lives, as well as their thoughts and emotions regarding the present moment as we collectively process the tragic murders of George Floyd, and other victims past and present.  Amanda and Arsène are both black women and, although they speak only for themselves and make clear that every person who has suffered racial abuse has their own unique story to tell, their stories are all too common and universal to the American black experience.  They are honest, powerful, complex, horrifying and compelling stories, filled with love and heartbreak for their fellow humans and this country itself.  I hope you will take the time to listen.     It is impossible for me to overstate how deeply honored, appreciative, and humbled I am that these two extraordinary women took the time and energy to share so openly with me about what it is like living as a black person in this country.  I am grateful to help share their stories, their thoughts, and their messages.  I am also grateful for what they've given me as I continue my life journey, hopefully that much more aware of the immense challenges facing some of my friends and fellow humans.At the end of her segment, Amanda mentions a number of resources to which you can turn for education on the subject of race relations, as well as ways to support the causes of civil justice and equality in our country. They are:White Fragility - A book by Robin DiAngelo The Official George Floyd Memorial Fund Minnesota Freedom Fund Black Visions Collective Fair Fight Reclaim the Block NAACP  I would also like to place a link here to an article I found to be very illuminating, and which has already helped guide me on how to approach conversations surrounding race with greater awareness: What Is White Privilege, Really? - by Cory Collins at the Teaching Tolerance website Amanda's instagram: @amanda_paytonArsène's instagram: @arsenedelaymusic Instagram: @nicholasdagosto #GodsDelicateShowTwitter: @nicholasdagosto #GodsDelicateShow  Official Website: nicholasdagosto.comMusic by Sean Whalen, Art by Alexandra Delano 

Babar Peerzada [TV/Stage Actor... NCIS: Los Angeles (also Writer), NCIS, Lions for Lambs] joins Nick on the phone to share the complex and compelling physical and spiritual journey he's taken to this point in his life.  Born in Pakistan to artistic, free-thinking parents, he lived in London, England until the age of 12, when his family returned to Pakistan full time.  This juxtaposition and tension between the cultures of creative freedom and overarching religiosity has defined the struggle of his life.  Unhappy having left England as a pre-teen, Babar fought, with the help of friends and family, to strike out on his own and follow his passion to work in Los Angeles as a professional actor.  The obstacles, setbacks, and successes of his life are worthy of a listen alone, but it is his reflections on his journey of faith, and his yearning to find peace and acceptance amidst life's challenges and his own personal struggles, that are at the heart of this story.  I found it to be a deeply meditative episode, punctuated by moments of aching and laughter and warmth.  I hope you enjoy it as much as I did. Babar is a big fan of Carl Sagan, and quotes him at one point in the episode.  Find that quote and more at this link: Carl SaganAlso, Babar is writing a stage play about the life of Mary Shelley, and the inspiration for her seminal book, Frankenstein.  More about her at this link: Mary ShelleyBabar Instagram: @babarpeerzada Instagram: @nicholasdagosto #GodsDelicateShowTwitter: @nicholasdagosto #GodsDelicateShow  Official Website: nicholasdagosto.comMusic by Sean Whalen, Art by Alexandra Delano

Arsène Delay (New Orleans-based singer/songwriter/musician with multiple award-winning albums and music featured on NCIS: New Orleans, MFA graduate of California Institute of the Arts) hops on the phone with Nick, and the old college theatre buddies (Marquette University) share a beautiful catch-up after having not seen each other since Nick and his wife visited her in New Orleans six years ago.  Arsène grew up the daughter of an active-duty military father, and she has the travel history to prove it.  But her family lineage is quintessentially New Orleanian, and the story of her spiritual journey to this point centers on the return to her familial and musical community there.  Arsène shares openly and deeply about the trials and joys of living in her beloved city, the richness of the culture she relies on there, and the particularly painful challenges New Orleans is dealing with today.  It's an intimate story which reveals as much about Arsène as it does New Orleans itself, and it was an honor to listen to her tell it.        Here's a short video that gives insight into something Arsène speaks about in the episode: The New Orleans "Second Line" And here's Arsène performing a song with The Charlie Wooton Project that is damn-near guaranteed to get you shakin' something: Boogie On Reggae Woman   Arsène Delay Official Website: arsenedelay.comArsène Facebook: Arsène Delay MusicArsène Instagram: @arsenedelaymusicTwitter: @nicholasdagosto #GodsDelicateShow Instagram: @nicholasdagosto #GodsDelicateShowOfficial Website: nicholasdagosto.comMusic by Sean Whalen, Art by Alexandra Delano

Steven Boyer (Hustlers, Orange is the New Black, Chicago: Fire, The Blacklist, and Tony-Award Nominee for Hand to God), Nick's old partner in both committing and fighting crime on their beloved little comedy Trial & Error, hops on the phone from his place in Brooklyn and tells a beautiful story about what led to his conversion to Reform Judaism.  Born in Columbus, Ohio to a loving Presbyterian family that did not practice weekly, or even monthly, Steven found himself at a young age seeking out a deeper religious connection than what he had at hand.  He spent time with Evangelicals, and time as an Agnostic Secular Humanist, but his life transformed emotionally, practically and spiritually upon meeting the woman whom he would marry.  Feeling no pressure from her or her family, Steven began to feel a resonant kinship with the synagogue at which his wife's family attended service, and he decided to convert when they were engaged.  Steven talks affectingly about the Jewish concepts of dayenu and tikkun olam, and he and Nick reminisce about how they were together in Vancouver when Steven led a Passover Seder for the first time (Jewish fans of the show may find a "bone" of contention in the story wink wink).  It's a warm, heartfelt, thoughtful and loving story, and it was an honor to listen to an old friend tell it. Something I need your help with: Let me know if you jam with the Peanut Butter Podcast. Steven Twitter: @SteveBoyer5000  Steven Instagram: @SteveBoyer5000Twitter: @nicholasdagosto #GodsDelicateShow Instagram: @nicholasdagosto #GodsDelicateShowOfficial Website: nicholasdagosto.comMusic by Sean Whalen, Art by Alexandra Delano

David Walton (Council of Dads, New Girl, Masters of Sex, About a Boy, Bad Moms, Fired Up!) and Nick, old friends who were cast as best friends in the first TV pilot either of them ever booked nearly 20 years ago, open up a conversation that surprises both of them in the nature of its' depth, its' generosity, and its' vulnerability.  Unwittingly, both came to the discussion with an offer for healing - Nick, by exorcising past feelings of hurt from when he was replaced off that aforementioned pilot from two decades ago before it went to series; and David, in sharing that he too had the idea to start a podcast on religion similar to G.O.D., and how he was initially reticent to listen.  What follows is the joyfully grounding discovery that they are sharing in similar spiritual journeys at present, along with many of the same questions, concerns and hopes about where they are headed.  It is a free-flowing and loving conversation, and both men left it with a deep sense of gratitude for the moment.David's luxury bathrobe company gets a lot of great run in this story... enjoy the payoff, and learn more about Wakanicci Bathrobes here. David's breakfast tip: Butter coffee with MCT oil from Bulletproof?  Love iiiiiiiit!And now for those FU! fans out there... here's where Nick and Shawn meet Dr. Rick.David's Instagram: @davidwaltonTwitter: @nicholasdagosto #GodsDelicateShow Instagram: @nicholasdagosto #GodsDelicateShowOfficial Website: nicholasdagosto.comMusic by Sean Whalen, Art by Alexandra Delano

Paul “Pablo” Burson (Director of Student Development and Community Partnerships at Regis University, and a Priest in the Ecumenical Catholic Communion), a dear friend and former teacher of Nick’s, joins the show, and Pablo’s inner light, his kindness, and his calm reverence for God and the spiritual life make for sublime conversation.  Pablo’s story is extraordinary.  He entered the seminary at the age of 14, would be ordained at 27, would be transformed while ministering in Guatemala, and would later marry, become a father, and find a new church in which to practice and preach.  He tells of the turmoil surrounding his choice to renounce his vow of chastity, which involved not only his inner spiritual life at the time, but his relationship to his parents, as well as another tragic revelation from his youth.  But Pablo’s story is one of healing and reconciliation, and his spiritual calling is to build bridges in the same fashion.  It is a warm, loving, joyful and generous hour, and it was a great honor to have him on the show.Something I learned: Pablo was influenced in his early training by a style of prayer that resembles the Pentecostal experience -- Charismatic Catholic RenewalPablo tells a story about where the practice of his inner spiritual life blossomed, during his time spent at The Abbey of Gethsemani -- where Thomas Merton lived as a monk. If you're in Denver, CO, you and all are welcome to attend a service with Pablo and his faith community at The Church of the Beloved! Twitter: @nicholasdagosto #GodsDelicateShow Instagram: @nicholasdagosto #GodsDelicateShowOfficial Website: nicholasdagosto.comMusic by Sean Whalen, Art by Alexandra Delano

Louise Spinner (former Senior Talent Agent in the Motion Picture Department at UTA/United Talent Agency), Nick's very first (and now most recent) talent representative, hops on the phone to share about why she is presently stepping away from her 30+ year career in the entertainment business, and what she hopes to gain by doing so.  She also talks about growing up the only biological child of two Reformed Jewish parents who each had prior marriages and families, and the way her perspective on life shifted in the wake of their deaths.  Especially touching are her intimate reflections on the unexpected passing of her mother to cancer.  Now a divorced mother of three who is seeking a more wholesome and balanced life inside a business that seems to resist those notions at every turn, Louise offers hard-earned wisdom on the struggle of aligning one's priorities in life, and why, despite the difficulty, it's important work to do when you still have the chance.Something I learned about after having already become a father... "Push Presents" Louise Instagram: @spin.stagramFacebook: Louise SpinnerLinkedIn: Louise SpinnerTwitter: @nicholasdagosto #GodsDelicateShow Instagram: @nicholasdagosto #GodsDelicateShowOfficial Website: nicholasdagosto.comMusic by Sean Whalen, Art by Alexandra Delano

Aaron Yoo (The Tomorrow People, Hawaii 5-0, Disturbia, 21, Everything Before Us) hops on the phone with Nick from his apartment in New York City, and the old Rocket Science pals share memories from 15 years ago and chat NYC Covid-19 before jumping into Aaron's unique relationship to religion, and Christianity in particular...  While five months pregnant with him, Aaron's mother suffered a terrifying automobile accident, and her doctors did not believe the baby would survive.  A father's pledge to God and a son's miracle survival would set the foundational tension for a young boy who would grow up both a "Pastor's Kid" and a curious skeptic.  Aaron speaks about this tension with deep love for his family, and love even for Christianity, but his distaste for the structure of religion and his interests in other philosophical thought remain clear.  It's a wide-ranging discussion, as well as funny, generous and revealing.  It was a joy to catch up with him, and learn more about an old friend.Who knows how many times I'll do this in the future, but this episode was the first one where I forgot to ask my guest what he had for breakfast!  So as not to deprive you, here it is, straight from Aaron:"I had sourdough toast with butter and sunflower butter. And some pumpkin granola with almond milk. That’s my go to breakfast. (My wife) turned me on to sunflower butter back when we started dating and I’ve never looked back. It puts peanut and almond butter to shame."  Dammit.  I missed a good one.And for those of you lucky enough to have seen him during his Off-Broadway run of THE HEADLANDS by Christopher Chen, Aaron has been nominated for a Lucille Lortel Award!Instagram: Aaron Yoo - @merlinwizdawgTwitter: @nicholasdagosto #GodsDelicateShow Instagram: @nicholasdagosto #GodsDelicateShowOfficial Website: nicholasdagosto.comMusic by Sean Whalen, Art by Alexandra Delano

Amy Miller (One of Comedy Central's "Up Next" comics for 2018; her album "Solid Gold" was named a Top 10 comedy album of 2016 by Interrobang) has been complimented by established comedians as both "alpha" and "fierce".  Well, no different here, as she was the alpha-guest regarding my first Covid-19 phone interview, and then afterwards would reveal to me that she had no idea who I was (or what she was getting into) until she looked me up on Instagram when we had finished.  That same ferocity and fearlessness shined through in the episode, as she spoke boldly, clearly and thoughtfully about what defined her upbringing and early spirituality, and what defines her outlook and comedic commentary today.  From a challenging childhood that found her leaning heavily on her Christian faith for strength and guidance, to an adulthood that rejected that Christian label but still finds her exploring the conversation of God every week on her podcast "Who's Your God?", Amy demonstrates the sincerity, empathy, and edge that makes her such a compelling comedian.  It was an honor to have her on the show. To all my listeners named "Jeff" out there... this one's for you.Instagram: @amymillercomedy & @whosyourgodcastTwitter: @nicholasdagosto #GodsDelicateShow Instagram: @nicholasdagosto #GodsDelicateShowOfficial Website: nicholasdagosto.comMusic by Sean Whalen, Art by Alexandra Delano

Steve Hernandez (Comedian, founder of Chatterbox Comedy Night, field reporter on Sarah Silverman's "I Love You, America!" and host of multiple podcasts) fearlessly visits Nick's studio as a total stranger, and is thankfully won over by a cup of coffee.  Nick, in turn, is won over by Steve's hearty laugh, his thoughtful reflection and his devotion to living life as kindly and honestly as possible.  Steve's spiritual journey begins as a devout young child raised in Faith Church, an Evangelical Christian community in West Covina, CA.  He tells a story about nearly entering the Army, and then becoming a leading Youth Minister in the church, only to leave the church as a young man who, as Steve puts it, "had a lot of sin his life."  Steve's journey continues through a marriage and subsequent divorce before he discovers ultimately where he is supposed to be - comedy.  Steve refers to himself as queer, and talks openly and at length about his polyamorous lifestyle as well as his devotion to his girlfriend, and how he's been able to understand himself and his personal relationship to God on new and evolving levels.  It's an enlightening, entertaining, honest and warm conversation, and I loved having him on the show.Here are iTunes links to all three of Steve's podcasts (find him @hernia on social):Who's Your God?The Male GazeViews From The Vista    Twitter: @nicholasdagosto #GodsDelicateShow Instagram: @nicholasdagosto #GodsDelicateShowOfficial Website: nicholasdagosto.com Music by Sean Whalen, Art by Alexandra Delano

Another of Nick's old friends, Enver Gjokaj - pronounced "Joke-Eye" - (Marvel's "Agent Carter" & "Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.", Joss Whedon's "Dollhouse", Emergence) visits the studio, and almost instantly we're swept up in not only Enver's journeys abroad, but the deeply mindful journey he's embarked on over the last handful of years since he bottomed out with depression.  Enver's story is a story of resilience - from being raised at times by foster parents due to his mothers' drug addiction, to achieving nearly all of the life goals he has so far set for himself, to finally choosing a path of health, happiness and gratitude after years spent in an unhealthy mindset and self-abuse.  Enver speaks openly and eloquently about his struggles both personally and professionally, and how he works to overcome these struggles by devoting himself to his community of loved ones and serving a purpose higher than himself.  We're catching Enver at a beautiful and inspiring stage in his spiritual journey, and I know I walked away much better for having heard him tell about it.    Here's a link to the camp where Enver and his brothers spent part of their youth: Golden Valley Camp... And a (free!) link to an influential book mentioned by Enver: The Varieties of Religious Experience by William JamesTwitter: @nicholasdagosto #GodsDelicateShow Instagram: @nicholasdagosto #GodsDelicateShowOfficial Website: https://godsdelicateshow.podbean.com/   Music by Sean Whalen, Art by Alexandra Delano

This week, Dan Sachoff (Zooey's Extraordinary Playlist, Black-ish, Scrubs, The Closer, Prison Break) visits the studio as kind repayment for when Nicholas was recently a guest on Dan's podcast, Christianese (ep #44).  Dan tells a beautiful and detailed story about his faith journey in Christ.  He weaves together his early challenges comprehending his mothers' addiction to painkillers and his fathers' health scares, on through to the solidification and deepening of his faith upon meeting his wife and becoming a father.  Dan co-hosts Christianese with his friend and Grace Baptist Church pastor, Jared Burkholder, and their core mission is to attempt to bridge a divide between what they see as their too often insular world of devout Christianity, with the diverse and/or secular world of belief outside their faith community.  Dan often says his hope is that "through open and honest dialogue we may find disagreements, but there's no reason we can't be thankful for the conversation and still part friends".  I believe we achieved that on both of our podcasts, and I'm thankful that Dan tackled many challenging questions so generously and openly.Here's an article that discusses a concept Dan introduced me to regarding the missionary aspect of believing in God's inerrant Biblical Word: Mission FieldAnd here's another link to my episode on Dan and Jared's podcast: Christianese (ep #44)Twitter: @nicholasdagosto #GodsDelicateShow Instagram: @nicholasdagosto #GodsDelicateShowOfficial Website: https://godsdelicateshow.podbean.com/   Music by Sean Whalen, Art by Alexandra Delano

Elizabeth Brooks Oakley (Speech Pathologist - Founder of Magnolia Speech Therapy in Burbank, CA, and now Soundpath LA) visits the studio and, although she didn't get in a good breakfast for herself, the fact that she's drinking coffee again means she's mostly doing fine.  Elizabeth has an extraordinary story to share, and she tells it energetically, passionately, and thoughtfully.  From her early impressions of Christianity as a young child, to wrestling with the aftereffects of her fathers' suicide when she was 18, Elizabeth tells a story that is mindful, reflective, and hopeful.  Her openness and curiosity in pursuit of spiritual answers led her to what would be, for example, a transformative experience with a psychic medium and, from there, further down the path to where she resides today: A belief in holistic healing methods, the study of human frequencies, and a reverence for the mystical aspect of our lives.  It was an enlightening and enriching conversation, and it was an honor to have her on the show.Here's a link to the book that Elizabeth gave me as a gift!: The Biology of Belief by Bruce Lipton  Twitter: @nicholasdagosto #GodsDelicateShow Instagram: @nicholasdagosto #GodsDelicateShowOfficial Website: https://godsdelicateshow.podbean.com/   Music by Sean Whalen, Art by Alexandra Delano

Friend, and fellow Fantasy Football League-mate Robert Baker (Grey's Anatomy, Wrecked, Texas Rising, Justified, Supergirl) visits the studio, and it's only natural that the two former Champs would take a moment to reflect upon their shared successes before hopping into the larger question of God.  Robert grew up on a farm in West Memphis, Arkansas, surrounded by a Baptist Christian community - where there was even a Church located on the farm - but Robert and his family were not particularly religious.  Robert, like Nicholas, is a husband, a father to a young son, and is reflecting on turning 40 years old - but the most defining moment in Robert's life came when he was 16, with the shocking death of his father.  Unsurprisingly, that event not only took Robert years to process, but it remains a point of contemplation that Robert has turned to time and again throughout his life.  Robert shares openly and thoughtfully about this experience, his time in and out of the Church, and his evolving relationship to God and wonder.  It's a beautiful, reflective, and joyful conversation, and it was an honor to have him on the show.   Here are two songs from a 1986 live performance of Robert's dad singing and playing lead guitar in his beloved Memphis band - Mud Boy and the Neutrons...And a link to their full length album from 1993 - Negro Streets At Dawn...And a tribute written in the Memphis Flyer about Lee Baker after his death. Twitter: @nicholasdagosto #GodsDelicateShow Instagram: @nicholasdagosto #GodsDelicateShowOfficial Website: https://godsdelicateshow.podbean.com/   Music by Sean Whalen, Art by Alexandra Delano

Paul James (Greek, The Path, Hot Zone, Soundtrack) visits the studio and instantly puts Nicholas on his heels by revealing that Nicholas' beloved, bottom shelf, American steel-cut oats might be laced with some sort of new 21st Century toxin.  Paul kindly offers to feed all of us his clean, organic, Irish steel-cut oats (for a price), and just as soon as Paul provides his address we can go knock on his door for breakfast.  What we don't have to pay for, however, is Paul's illuminating story about growing up a Christian Scientist - a denomination of Christianity that encourages belief in the healing power of prayer, instead of the use of modern medicines, as the best tool for curing illnesses.  This ranges from the treatment of illnesses as large as cancer, to such mundanities as not using Neosporin for cuts.  Equally as compelling are Paul's reflections on the sudden death of his father, when Paul was still a young man.  Paul speaks about his journey through that difficult time, his new understanding of the unconscious pessimism he lived with in the aftermath of that event, and how he has recently begun exploring a more hopeful, and enriching, path forward in his life.  It's a beautiful, thoughtful, funny, and reflective conversation.  It was a joy to have him on the show.Something Paul's mother told him about, that I promised I'd link here: TappingAnd another, for good measure: Woo WooTwitter: @nicholasdagosto #GodsDelicateShow Instagram: @nicholasdagosto #GodsDelicateShowOfficial Website: https://godsdelicateshow.podbean.com/   Music by Sean Whalen, Art by Alexandra Delano

David Muller (Los Angeles-based headshot and portrait photographer, named one of LA's favorite headshot photographers by Backstage Reader's Choice Awards) visits the studio for what becomes an extraordinarily revealing look into what he refers to as his time spent in a Christian "cult".  David tells a story as surprising as it is understandable, beginning as a secular middle-schooler, and transitioning step-by-step from being Born Again, to Pentecostal, to something much more extreme and unhealthy, always following his Mother along this astounding journey.  David is free from this past now, and his faith today, although one of genuine spirituality, is rooted in science, evolution, and reason.  But all of the pain, agony, sincerity and even euphoria of those years are palpable in his voice and his words as he recalls for us his dramatic upbringing.  It was a gift to listen to his story. Something to share: Here's a link to a famous pastor - T.D. Jakes -  who at times in the video you will see Speaking in Tongues...... However!  Here's a link to an article about how T.D. Jakes has now moved away from his Pentecostal "Oneness" faith, to a more Trinitarian point-of-view.Twitter: @nicholasdagosto #GodsDelicateShow Instagram: @nicholasdagosto #GodsDelicateShowOfficial Website: https://godsdelicateshow.podbean.com/   Music by Sean Whalen, Art by Alexandra Delano

David Sacks (Emmy and Golden Globe-winning Writer/Executive Producer: The Simpsons, 3rd Rock From The Sun... currently the animated series Final Space) visits the studio, and it is instantly apparent that he lives his life in a devout, contemplative, and mindful place.  The conversation deepens so quickly that Nick doesn't even remember to ask David about breakfast until after the second break!  David is a Co-founder and Senior Lecturer at The Happy Minyan in Beverly Hills, CA, and it's clear why -- he is a masterful storyteller, a fluid Torah scholar, and a man whose organizing principles are love, friendship, and community.  David openly tackles many elevated subjects, ranging from his foundational faith in God, to how he views the Afterlife.  It was an extraordinarily reverent conversation, and I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.  On Sunday mornings, you can sit in on his class "Spiritual Tools for an Outrageous World"... Or, you can listen to his lectures on iTunes by clicking HERE.Twitter: @nicholasdagosto #GodsDelicateShow Instagram: @nicholasdagosto #GodsDelicateShowOfficial Website: https://godsdelicateshow.podbean.com/   Music by Sean Whalen, Art by Alexandra Delano

Halie Rosenberg (Writer/Producer, SEO Strategist for Fortune 500 Companies) visits the studio and wastes no time dropping the ‘ol 1-2 punch: Quakerism and Cabbage.  (Halie was raised a Quaker, and it turns out she also loves cabbage.)  Halie generously opens up about the philosophy of the Quakers, and how their practice of meditative silence in "Meetings" still influences her today.  Even more compelling are her reflections on the deaths of her father and step-mother, just six weeks apart.  Their shocking loss has inspired Halie to re-think her present, live more in the moment, and re-define for herself what a happier and more fulfilling future might look like.  It’s a deeply thoughtful, informative, sometimes sad, and yet very funny conversation.  It was a joy to have her on the show.Something that might interest you: This list of surprising celebrity Quakers!Twitter: @nicholasdagosto #GodsDelicateShow Instagram: @nicholasdagosto #GodsDelicateShowOfficial Website: https://godsdelicateshow.podbean.com/   Music by Sean Whalen, Art by Alexandra Delano 

Julia Cunningham (SiriusXM DJ and Co-Host of "The Jess Cagle Show") takes time out of her busy schedule (she's leaving for her honeymoon tomorrow!) to visit the studio and rap about growing up the daughter of a Theologian who specialized in Thomas Merton.  Julia has fond memories of her Catholic upbringing, as well as the years where her family would go to service at a Greek Orthodox Church, but her participation in the religion fell away in her early adulthood as she pursued her career.  Now, having just been married, she's turning her mind toward what her family faith structure might look like in the future.  She also discusses meditation, ghosts, and the cat outside her window that won't stop pulling at her heartstrings. Something I'd Like to Do Now: Visit the University of Notre Dame, with its' famous Golden Dome, in Autumn. Twitter: @nicholasdagosto #GodsDelicateShowInstagram: @nicholasdagosto #GodsDelicateShow Official Website: https://godsdelicateshow.podbean.com/   Music by Sean Whalen, Art by Alexandra Delano

Ken Hanes (Television Writer/Director/Executive Producer: Midnight, Texas, Rizzoli & Isles, Make It Or Break It) and Nicholas are old friends from their time working together on the USA pilot Eden - but that doesn't keep Nicholas from surprising Ken with his favorite "Gotcha!" question: "What did you have for breakfast this morning?"  (Note: Ken passed with flying colors.)  Ken, in turn, surprises Nicholas by sharing his upbringing as a Seventh Day Adventist, his entrepreneurial (read: hustling!) spirit as a young man, and the fact that he's still fit enough to play a tough game of basketball weekly.  Most affecting, however, are the stories Ken shares about his father's PTSD suffered during the European campaigns of WWII, and his love for his late wife, Mary.  Ken pays an emotional tribute to his beloved wife, partner and friend.  And as Mary and Nicholas were also friends (Mary co-wrote Eden with Ken), the conversation is full of love, compassion, and deep reflection.  It was a true honor to have Ken on the show. Something that knocked my socks on my ass: Ken spent many seasons as an actor on The Bold And The Beautiful!!!     Twitter: @nicholasdagosto #GodsDelicateShowInstagram: @nicholasdagosto #GodsDelicateShow Official Website: https://godsdelicateshow.podbean.com/   Music by Sean Whalen, Art by Alexandra Delano 

Anam Vadgama (Staff Member at the non-profit charity The Life You Can Save) and Nicholas met at a Los Angeles charity event for TLYCS, and Nicholas was thrilled to get her into the studio before she hopped on a plane that would ultimately take her back to her home in Mumbai, India.  Anam is a recent graduate of Princeton, and a brilliant and passionate activist for social change, especially in her own community.  She is a devoted and faithful Muslim - the religion within which she was raised - but her own study of Islam has led her to a new understanding and appreciation of her faith.  The tension between being a modern female Ivy League graduate, and a Muslim woman devoted to her Indian community, is palpable in her story, and it informs the direction of her life.  She is inspiring and courageous, and she has a lot to share about religion, including how she joyfully celebrates the religions of all of her friends (and they hers) in her Indian collectivist culture.  It was a great honor to have her on the show.   A gift Anam brought me!: The Sixth String of Vilayat Khan   An important clarification: Anam speaks at one point about the Five Categories of Human Action in Sharia Law, and has trouble remembering one of the five... but only because she forgot it in English, not Arabic! Another important clarification: My son eats much healthier when his mother isn't working out of town (read: Daddy pretty much just cooks noodles). Twitter: @nicholasdagosto #GodsDelicateShowInstagram: @nicholasdagosto #GodsDelicateShow Official Website: https://godsdelicateshow.podbean.com/   Music by Sean Whalen, Art by Alexandra Delano

Charlie Bresler (Volunteer Executive Director of the non-profit charity The Life You Can Save) visits the studio the morning of a big Los Angeles charity event for TLYCS, and in preparation for Nicholas' speech that night, Charlie gets him to open up about the always-compelling "Would you rather be called Nick or Nicholas" question (note: answer revealed!).  Following a plug for Le Pain Quotidien, Charlie talks about his preoccupation with his own death, and the turmoil he sometimes experiences regarding his belief that he will never see his family again in the afterlife.  Charlie is in deep reflection about what he views as his greatest challenge - dissolving the pull of his ego towards vanity, while at the same time remaining deeply active in the pursuit of making the world a better place.  It's a generous and inspiring interview, full of humor and tragedy and sincerity.   A recommendation I was happy to receive: Buddhist Monk/Activist Thich Nhat Hanh   Twitter: @nicholasdagosto #GodsDelicateShowInstagram: @nicholasdagosto #GodsDelicateShow Official Website: https://godsdelicateshow.podbean.com/   Music by Sean Whalen, Art by Alexandra Delano

Jessalyn Gilsig (Vikings, Scandal, Glee, Nip/Tuck) visits the show, and she and Nicholas instantly start digging into the burning questions surrounding the series Boston Public (example: Why did they make her take so many showers on camera?).  Jessalyn opens up about having parents from different faith backgrounds (Catholic and Jewish), how they decided not to raise Jessalyn as either one, and how that's left her to grapple with her own religious identity.  She speaks about the difficulty of her mother being ex-communicated from the Church, as well as the anti-semitism her family suffered during her childhood (bomb threats?!).  Jessalyn is now guiding her daughter through these same questions regarding religion and spirituality, as well as trying desperately to get her to stop leaving chocolate laying around where Jessalyn is tempted to eat it.   Twitter: @nicholasdagosto #GodsDelicateShowInstagram: @nicholasdagosto #GodsDelicateShow Official Website: https://godsdelicateshow.podbean.com/   Music by Sean Whalen, Art by Alexandra Delano   Interview Originally Recorded at Brigade Radio One Studios 

Sherri Shepherd (Mr. Iglesias, The Best Ever Trivia Show, The Masked Singer, 30 Rock, The View, Precious) and Nicholas reunite for the first time since their days on Trial & Error, and they jump right in to the conversation.  Sherri opens up about her mothers’ conversion to being a Jehovahs Witness, her subsequent painful family separation from her father, her mothers’ early death, and the twists and turns along the way.  Sherri reflects deeply about her often tumultuous time on The View, how she got started in comedy to begin with, and even the first joke she ever told on stage.  What shines through it all is Sherri’s optimism, her resilience, her faith in God, and her desire to always find what’s on the other side of her fears.  She also shares a little about the danger of wearing wigs while getting the Holy Ghost!  It was an absolute honor to have her on the show.  >>>      My first G.O.D. APB: If you’re the co-worker who helped inspire Sherri to be a comedian, please email me because she wants to thank you!!  >>>        Twitter: @nicholasdagosto #GodsDelicateShow  >>>   Instagram: @nicholasdagosto #GodsDelicateShow  >>>      Official Website: https://godsdelicateshow.podbean.com/  >>>     Music by Sean Whalen, Art by Alexandra Delano

Jeff Astrof (Writer/Producer on Friends, New Adventures of Old Christine, Trial & Error) visits the show and he and Nicholas promptly begin lavishing praise on their beloved, canceled series, Trial & Error.  Jeff shares about being low on the popularity totem pole in high school, as well as the anti-semitism he suffered, and how he overcame both of those challenges (Answer: He brings an extra pair of pants).  Jeff also describes witnessing a miracle on Google.  Jeff is a devout believer, and his love for God is palpable.  Jeff's feelings about Nicholas referring to him as acerbic?  Also... palpable. Something I didn't know: A LOT about Jewish history. Twitter: @nicholasdagosto #GodsDelicateShowInstagram: @nicholasdagosto #GodsDelicateShow Official Website: https://godsdelicateshow.podbean.com/   Music by Sean Whalen, Art by Alexandra Delano   Interview Originally Recorded at Brigade Radio One Studios 

Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador Manuel (known by his initials AMLO) took office in January of this year. A self-described "man of the left," López Obrador has chosen not to confront Donald Trump on US immigration policy. Who is AMLO, and what accounts for his--perhaps surprising--stance toward Trump Administration actions at the border?  Carlos Bravo Regidor, a professor at the Center for Research and Teaching in Economics in Mexico City, and Alexandra Delano, Chair of Global Studies at The New School, provide the answers.