Moco's Most Famous

Silver Spring's Thea LaFond won gold for Dominica during the Paris Olympics. Recently, MCM talked with LaFond at our Rockville studios about her trumphant journey. LaFond, who lives in Silver Spring and represented Dominica at the Olympics, won gold in the women's triple jump in August. It was the first-ever Olympic medal for the island nation in the Caribbean. She was previously a teacher at John F. Kennedy High School, her alma mater, while also competing as an Olympian. LaFond shared her story with MCM on the 50th and most recent episode of MoCo's Most Famous.

Rockville resident and Landon School administrator Joan Vassos became a household name when she became a contestant on the ABC show The Golden Bachelor. Vassos, 60, hit it off with the show’s namesake Gerry Turner, a 71 year-old widower from Indiana, but then suddenly departed the show when her daughter asked her to come home. Vassos shared her story with MCM on the most recent episode of MoCo’s Most Famous. Available now on MyMCMedia, Overcast, Apple Podcasts, RadioPublic, Spotify, Stitcher, Facebook, Pocketcasts, and Twitter.  Subscribe now.

Scott Van Pelt graduated from Sherwood High School and University of Maryland. After more than 20 years at ESPN, Scott Van Pelt has become one of the most successful and popular sportscasters in the business. The SportsCenter anchor has over two million followers on X, has hosted countless big sporting events and recently took over hosting duties for Monday Night Countdown. Van Pelt talked to MCM Director of Content Joe Yasharoff about how his friendship with Tiger Woods changed his life and coming back home to Montgomery County in the latest episode of MoCo’s Most Famous. Available now on MyMCMedia, Overcast, Apple Podcasts, RadioPublic, Spotify, Stitcher, Facebook, Pocketcasts, and Twitter.  Subscribe now.

Kayla DiCello is a world-class gymnast at the University of Florida. The Boyds native and Northwest High School alum was recently honored as the Southeastern Conference (SEC) Freshman of the Year. DiCello is working to make the U.S. Olympic team for the 2024 Summer Games in Paris. She was selected as an alternate for the 2021 Olympics in Tokyo. DiCello spoke to MyMCM Director of Content Joe Yasharoff in the latest episode of the MoCo’s Most Famous podcast about her hopes and aspirations. Available now on MyMCMedia, Overcast, Apple Podcasts, RadioPublic, Spotify, Stitcher, Facebook, Pocketcasts, and Twitter.  Subscribe now.

Lisa Ann Walter was born and bred in Silver Spring. She graduated from Blair High School and Catholic University. Two years ago, Walter became part of an ensemble cast that formed ABC's Emmy Award-winning show Abbott Elementary, about a public school in Philadelphia. Walter plays the tough but lovable Melissa Schemmenti on the show. Walter is the host and honorary marshall for the 2023 Cherry Blossom Parade in Washington, D.C. The comedian, actress and producer talked to Joe Yasharoff, myMCM's Director of Content, in the latest episode of MoCo's Most Famous. Available now on MyMCMedia, Overcast, Apple Podcasts, RadioPublic, Spotify, Stitcher, Facebook, Pocketcasts, and Twitter.  Subscribe now.

TCU (Texas Christian University) will be playing for the college football national championship against defending champions Georgia in Los Angeles on Monday, Jan.9. Coming into the season, the Horned Frogs were not considered serious contenders for their conference (Big 12) title much less for the national championship. As unlikely as TCU's meteoric rise to the championship game is, the story of one its star players, Darnestown native Johnny Hodges' story is arguably more remarkable. Hodges took a very non-traditional route to get to this point. The three-sport star at Quince Orchard received only two scholarship offers to play football. He ended up at Navy - playing lacrosse. And now, he's 60 minutes of football away from being a college football national champion. Hodges spoke to MyMCM Director of Content Joe Yasharoff in the latest episode of the MoCo's Most Famous podcast about his amazing journey.

The Quince Orchard High School football team completed their second straight undefeated season last Thursday beating CH Flowers 32-7 in the Maryland 4A state championship game. It was the Cougars’ 28th  consecutive win, second straight state title and third in the last five years. Quince Orchard head coach John Kelley earned his 100th career win Thursday. Kelley talked to Joe Yasharoff, MyMCM’s Director of Content, about his team’s sustained dominance in the latest episode of the MoCo’s Most Famous podcast.

Maryland state senator Cheryl Kagan represents District 17 which covers  Rockville and Gaithersburg. The Montgomery County native has earned a  reputation as one of the most passionate and influential politicians in  the county, serving on powerful committees and authoring many important  bills. Kagan recently talked to MCM’s Director of Content Joe Yasharoff for the  latest episode of MoCo’s Most Famous podcast about the importance of  the upcoming election, her support of gubernatorial candidate Wes Moore,  the many bills she has authored and her many and varied interests  outside of politics including music, languages, Scrabble and her own  podcast, Kibbitzing with Kagan.

The Montgomery County Agricultural Fair in Gaithersburg has been  around for over 70 years and has become one of the county’s can’t miss  events of the summer. Marty Svrcek is the Executive Director of the fair and fair grounds. He refers to the far as “Disney North.” MyMCM  Director of Content Joe Yasharoff talked to Svrcek about all aspects of  the fair past, present and future in the latest episode of the MoCo’s Most Famous podcast.

On December 7, 2021, Kurkjian received a call to inform him that he  had been named the recipient of the prestigious Baseball Writers’  Association of America (BBWAA) Career Excellence Award. He was  dumbstruck. In the seven plus months since the award was announced, Kurkjian has  had time to reflect back on a career that took him from Walter Johnson  High School in Bethesda to the University of Maryland to the Dallas  Morning News, the Baltimore Sun, Sports Illustrated and ESPN for the  last 24 years where he has become one of the best and most trusted  baseball analysts on television.. On the eve of receiving the award. Kurkjian talked to Joe Yasharoff  about his career, what the award means to him and growing up in  Montgomery County in the latest episode of MoCo’s Most Famous.

Retired soccer star Bruce Murray’s list of accomplishments on the field  is long. Murray starred at Churchill High School, Clemson University and  the U.S. National Team before playing in the pros for several years. He  has been inducted into three halls of fame including the inaugural  class of the Montgomery County Sports Hall of Fame.  Now 56, Murray is struggling with dementia, memory loss and,  potentially, CTE which is usually associated with football players. Available now on MyMCMedia, Overcast, Apple Podcasts, RadioPublic,   Spotify, Stitcher, Facebook, Pocketcasts, and Twitter.  Subscribe now.

Paul Rabil is one of the  greatest lacrosse players of all-time. He recently retired and  co-founded of the Premier Lacrosse League. He grew up in Gaithersburg  and was recently inducted into the Washington, DC Sports Hall of Fame.  Rabil talked to MyMCM about his career and continuing to grow the game  through his professional league. Available now on MyMCMedia, Overcast, Apple Podcasts, RadioPublic,   Spotify, Stitcher, Facebook, Pocketcasts, and Twitter.  Subscribe now.

Hootie & the Blowfish was one of the most popular rock bands in the world in the 1990's. Fronted by Darius Rucker, the band had a string of hits including Only Wanna Be With You and Hold My Hand and won two Grammys. Rucker met guitarists Mark Bryan and Dean Felber - two buddies from Seneca Valley High School - at a dorm at the University of South Carolina in the mid-80's where the three went to school. They hit it off right away, formed a band and the rest was history. All have gone their separate ways professionally although the band still performs shows together on occasion. Bryan, born in Silver Spring and now living in South Carolina, has released a new solo album called Midlife Priceless. He performed songs from that album plus old hits from Hootie at a show at Ram's Head Tavern in Annapolis in September. Bryan talked to Joe Yasharoff recently about the new album, the old days and the rush he still gets performing in the latest episode of MoCo's Most Famous podcast. Available now on MyMCMedia, O

Maury Povich, host of Maury, is the longest-running host in daytime television history. Povich spent many of his formative years in Montgomery County. He talks about growing up in MoCo, working for years at WTTG (now FOX5), his wife Connie Chung, and his legendary sports columnist father who is being honored with a statue on MoCo’s Most Famous. Available now on MyMCMedia, Overcast, Apple Podcasts, RadioPublic, Spotify, Stitcher, Facebook, Pocketcasts, and Twitter.  Subscribe now.

News anchor/reporter Eun Yang has covered popes, inaugurations and everything in between in her decade-plus at NBC4 in Washington DC. For the last couple of weeks, she’s been in Tokyo covering all the local athletes – including swimmer Katie Ledecky and hurdler Noah Lyles –  competing in the Olympics.   Yang was born in Seoul, South Korea but grew up in the Washington, D.C, area. She graduated from Paint Branch High School in Burtonsville and the University of Maryland’s Merrill College of Journalism.  She joined Joe Yasharoff from Tokyo in the latest episode of the MoCo’s Most Famous podcast. Available now on MyMCMedia, Overcast, Apple Podcasts, RadioPublic, Spotify, Stitcher, Facebook, Pocketcasts, and Twitter.  Subscribe now.

Did you know that pickleball is the fastest growing sport in the United States? And that the world’s top-ranked player is from Montgomery County? Ben Johns grew up in Laytonsville playing all sports, but only one stuck: pickleball, a hybrid of tennis and ping pong. Johns talked to MyMCM about his upbringing in Montgomery County and his ascendency to the top of his sport and why the sport is getting so popular in the latest episode of MoCo’s Most Famous. Available now on MyMCMedia, Overcast, Apple Podcasts, RadioPublic,  Spotify, Stitcher, Facebook, Pocketcasts, and Twitter.  Subscribe now.

The much talked-about and written-about Brood X cicadas have started to arrive, showing up on trees and in backyards. Millions more are expected to emerge from their 17-year long slumber in the coming days. Central Maryland is expected to be the epicenter of the madness meaning that Montgomery County could be ground zero for cicadas. MyMCM wanted to get the best information on cicadas for County residents – some who are eagerly awaiting the insect invasion and others who can’t bear the thought of it – so we sought the counsel of one of the country’s foremost experts on cicadas, Dr. Michael J. Raupp, an entomologist at the University of Maryland. Raupp has been studying the mysterious creatures for decades and has appeared on Good Morning America, The Tonight Show, and CNN to share his knowledge – and love – of cicadas. Raupp joined host Joe Yasharoff for the latest episode of MoCo’s Most Famous. Available now on MyMCMedia, Overcast, Apple Podcasts, RadioPublic,  Spotify, Stitcher, Facebook, Pocketcasts,

Denny McCarthy is moving up the charts. The 28 year-old Montgomery County native is coming off the best stretch of his PGA Tour career. In his last three tournaments, he tied for 26th place at the Arnold Palmer Invitational, was 55th at The Players Championship but was one-shot off the lead at one point in the second round and had a career high finish tying for 3rd at the Honda Classic. And the Georgetown Prep alum got his first hole in one as a pro at The Players. McCarthy joined Joe Yasharoff for the latest MoCo's Most Famous podcast. Available now on MyMCMedia, Overcast, Apple Podcasts, RadioPublic,  Spotify, Stitcher, Facebook, Pocketcasts, and Twitter.  Subscribe now.   Stay up to date on news in Montgomery County!

Lewis Black is that angry, ranting comedian you've seen in several stand-ups specials and who essentially played himself as the voice of Anger in the Pixar animated, Oscar-winning film Inside Out in 2015. Black grew up in a funny household in Silver Spring attending Springbrook High School in the 60's. He won a Grammy for best comedy album in 2007 and is still going strong at the age of 72 although not doing any shows - live or virtual - during the pandemic. On the latest episode of MoCo's Most Famous, MyMCM's Joe Yasharoff talked to Black on the eve of an MPCS event he was invited to take part in discussing careers for middle schoolers and high schoolers. Available now on MyMCMedia, Overcast, Apple Podcasts, RadioPublic,  Spotify, Stitcher, Facebook, Pocketcasts, and Twitter.  Subscribe now.  Stay up to date on news in Montgomery County!

Dorian O'Daniel knows winning. The 26-year-old NFL linebacker won a state championship at Our Lady of Good Counsel High School in Olney, won  four ACC Championships and a National Championship at Clemson University and last year was a member of the Super Bowl winning Kansas City Chiefs. On Sunday, O'Daniel and the Chiefs will attempt to repeat as champions against Tom Brady and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Super  Bowl LV in Tampa.   O'Daniel took time out of his busy week prepping for the big game by talking to Joe Yasharoff in this special Super Bowl edition of MoCo's Most Famous.  Available now on MyMCMedia, Overcast, Apple Podcasts, RadioPublic,  Spotify, Stitcher, Facebook, Pocketcasts, and Twitter.  Subscribe now.  Stay up to date on news in Montgomery County!