Moco's Most Famous

Take Me Home, Country Roads was a big hit for Rock and Roll Hall of  Famer John Denver in 1971, peaking at number two on the Billboard charts. It is considered Denver's signature song and became one of West  Virginia's official state songs in 2014 but the song has strong  Montgomery County roots.  Two of the song's co-writers - Bill Danoff and Taffy Nivert who were married at the time - lived in Montgomery County for years. The song's genesis can be traced back to a car ride in 1970 on a very rural at the time Clopper Road with Danoff and Nivert on their way to a family reunion in Gaithersburg singing and strumming along the way.   Many versions of what happened after that car ride have been told for years including one that claims the song's original title was Take Me  Home, Clopper Road. MyMCM wanted to get the real story so we tracked down Nivert in Florida - where she has lived for the last several years -  to set the record straight in the latest edition of MoCo's

Curtis Pride was a dominant athlete at Kennedy High School in the 1980's in not one, not two but three sports. Pride was all-everything in baseball, basketball and soccer. This Sunday, Pride will be inducted into the Montgomery County Sports Hall of Fame (MCSHF). Pride became the first deaf person in almost 50 years to play in the Major League Baseball. Not many people can say they played with and against Michael Jordan in basketball AND baseball. Pride can. For the last 12 years, Pride has been the head coach of the Gallaudet University baseball team. He spoke with Joe Yasharoff 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.  Stay up to date on news in Montgomery County!

Isiah "Ike" Leggett is back in the limelight. But just briefly he says. Leggett, 76, has stepped out of retirement to join a group including David Trone, Connie Morella and Carmen Ortiz Larsen fighting against two questions on the ballot for the upcoming election: B and D. Leggett spoke to MyMCMedia's Joe Yasharoff in the latest episode of MoCo's Most Famous podcast about why he stepped out of retirement and topics ranging from race in Montgomery County, the pandemic, Ruth Bader Ginsburg's legacy and a very telling story about his first campaign for the county council 35 years ago. The podcast was taped on September 25. 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!

Five years ago, Jake Funk helped lead Damascus High School to an undefeated 14-0 record and the 3A Maryland state title scoring seven  touchdowns in the championship game against Dundalk.   Now he's a senior running back at the University of Maryland. Injuries have ended his last two seasons and it looked like he would miss his senior season when the Big Ten announced in August that they had postponed the 2020 season due to safety concerns over COVID-19. But last week, the conference reversed its decision announcing an eight-game schedule for all 14 schools beginning in late October.   Funk, a three-time academic all Big Ten, is finally healthy and says he's ready to go for Maryland's season opener against Northwestern on  October 24.  The Gaithersburg native talked to MyMCMedia's Joe Yasharoff in the latest episode of MoCo's Most Famous.   Available now on MyMCMedia, Overcast, Apple Podcasts, RadioPublic,  Spotify, Stitcher, Facebook, Pocketcasts, and Twitter.  Subscri

Bram Weinstein is the new radio play-by-play announcer for the Washington Football Team. Weinstein grew up in Montgomery County graduating from Springbrook High School and then American University. He has worked at ESPN, ESPN radio and FOX5 over the last several years. In the late 1990’s he worked at Montgomery Community Media as the sports director/anchor on Channel 21. Weinstein talked to MyMCMedia's Joe Yasharoff in the latest episode of MoCo's Most Famous about his new gig. Available Now on MyMCMedia, Overcast, Apple Podcasts, RadioPublic, Spotify, Stitcher, Facebook, Pocketcasts and Twitter. Subscribe now.

Silver Spring native Dominique Dawes is known by many as a three-time Olympic gymnast and a gold medal winner. But this week Dawes is doing something she considers much more significant - opening the Dominique Dawes Gymnastics Academy in Clarksburg. Dawes talked to MyMCMedia's Joe Yasharoff in the latest episode of MoCo's Most Famous about opening her new gym during a pandemic and the scandals that have brought shame to the world of gymnastics. #MoCosMostFamous 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.

As the song reminds us, it’s the most wonderful time of the year. At MyMCMedia, we want to help make the holidays as festive as possible so we approached the most beloved and famous person of all – especially this time of year – to see if he would grace us with his presence on the MoCo’s Most Famous podcast. Hope you enjoy Episode 20 of MoCo's Most Famous with Santa Claus. #MoCosMostFamous

Dominique Dawes is far removed from winning four medals in three Olympic Games between 1992 and 2000. Now 43 with four small children, the Silver Spring native is excited to be opening the Dominique Dawes Gymnastics Academy in Clarksburg in the spring of 2020. Dawes talked to MyMCMedia's Joe Yasharoff about the new academy, the sexual assault scandal that rocked the sports world and growing up in Montgomery County in the latest episode of MoCo's Most Famous.

Jud Ashman, the affable mayor of Gaithersburg, talks to MyMCMedia about Wawa and Royal Farms potentially coming to Montgomery County, the future of Lakeforest Mall and his pet project, the very popular Gaithersburg Book Festival.

At the ripe old age of 15, Katie Ledecky stood atop the highest podium during the medal ceremony at the 2012 London Olympic Games proudly listening to the national anthem after winning her first gold medal. Now 22, Ledecky has five Olympic golds and will be trying to add to her collection next summer at the 2020 Tokyo Games. For Ledecky, it all started in Bethesda getting up in the wee hours of the morning, swimming for local clubs just like lots of other swim kids. But Ledecky's talent and work ethic quickly catapulted her into rarefied air. Friday she will be inducted into the Montgomery County Sports Hall of Fame. Ledecky is this week's very special guest on MoCo's Most Famous with Joe Yasharoff. Available Now on MyMCMedia, Overcast, Apple Podcasts, RadioPublic, Spotify, Stitcher, Facebook, Pocketcasts and Twitter. Subscribe now. #MoCosMostFamous

47 years as head coach at four Montgomery County schools. 405 career wins, the most in Maryland history. Eight state championships. The numbers are startling but only tell part of the story of Bob Milloy, one of the most influential coaches these parts have ever seen. The retired coach came to MCM to discuss the countless players and coaches he has mentored over the decades, his most gratifying victories, most agonizing losses and his latest Hall of Fame induction. He joined Joe Yasharoff for the latest episode of MoCo's Most Famous. Available Now on MyMCMedia, Overcast, Apple Podcasts, RadioPublic, Spotify, Stitcher, Facebook, Pocketcasts and Twitter.Subscribe now.  #MoCosMostFamous

Mark Ein might as well be called DC’s Mr. Tennis. He made his name as an investor, entrepreneur, and philanthropist in Washington D.C. but most people know him as the owner of the Washington Kastles, a professional team that won six championships (including five in a row) in World Team Tennis. He is passionate about the game having grown up in Chevy Chase where he captained the tennis team at Bethesda Chevy Chase High School. Before that, he was a ball boy at the Citi Open and – in a Hollywood script-worthy turn of events – he now owns the tournament that has been played at the courts located 16th and Kennedy for 50 years. Ein and his team have made some creative changes to the fan experience for this year’s Citi Open. He talked about the changes, the mania over 15-year old sensation Coco Gauff and much more in the latest episode of MoCo’s Most Famous. #MoCosMostFamous  Available Now on MyMCMedia, Overcast, Apple Podcasts, RadioPublic, Spotify, Stitcher, Facebook, Pocketcasts and Twitter. Subscribe now.

Shawn Springs is one of the best football players to ever come out of Montgomery County. After a decorated career at Springbrook as an All-Met football player and track star, Springs was an All-America at Ohio State and the third overall pick in the 1997 NFL Draft by the Seattle Seahawks. A 13-year NFL career was highlighted by playing for Joe Gibbs with the Redskins and one season playing for New England Patriots’ legendary coach Bill Belichick. In the last few years, Springs has mentored current Redskins quarterback Dwayne Haskins and been busy as the CEO of Windpact, a company trying to make football safer using technology to improve helmets. Springs is this week’s guest on MoCo’s Most Famous with Joe Yasharoff.  #MoCosMostFamous  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.

Dr. DeRionne Pollard is not your father’s college president. Not even  close. She’s out, proud and in charge. In her 10th year of leading  Montgomery College, Pollard discusses what the goals of higher education  should be, why community  colleges matter and her go to music artist after a tough day at the  office on this week’s episode of MoCo’s Most Famous with Joe Yasharoff.  #MoCosMostFamous 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.

You may not know his name but chances are you know the face and have seen him on TV over the last several years. Jason Kravits has had roles on many prominent shows like Friends, Curb Your Enthusiam, The Practice, Law and Order, Everybody Loves Raymond, 30 Rock, Blue Bloods and many more. He grew up in Gaithersburg attending Magruder High School then the University of Maryland where he started up an improv group that still exists today. Kravits is back in town this week for a one-man improvised cabaret show at the AMP in Rockville. He joined Joe Yasharoff for this week's episode of MoCo's Most Famous.  #MoCosMostFamous 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.

It’s a building that Washingtonians see every day while driving on the Beltway: the Mormon Temple (actually called the Washington D.C. Temple). Most have never been inside so there’s a mystery attached to it. On this week’s MoCo’s Most Famous with Joe Yasharoff, we try to pull back the curtain and demystify some of the misconceptions about Montgomery County’s most famous and recognizable landmark. We ask the question that everybody wants to know: when will the temple re-open after a lengthy renovation? That plus a discussion about the popular and controversial Broadway play, the Book of Mormon and much more.  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.

Tommy Davidson burst onto the comedy scene in 1990 as part of an ensemble cast which included Jamie Foxx, Jim Carrey and the Wayans family in the groundbreaking TV show, In Living Color.  That was eight years after graduating from Bethesda-Chevy Chase High School. Davidson still relishes his days in Montgomery County and his five years on the hit show which he discusses along with his favorite impressions on this week’s edition of MoCo’s Most Famous with Joe Yasharoff.  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.

Sue Palka has been FOX5's chief weather forecaster for over 33 years. She talks about starting out as a teacher and an actress, the major changes in meteorology over the years and why she loves Montgomery County – on this episode of MoCo’s Most Famous with Joe Yasharoff.  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!

Michael Bobbitt, artistic director for the Glen Echo-based Adventure Theatre, will take a new position in the Boston area on August 1st. Learn about his 12-year journey with Adventure Theatre, the health of the institution, and Bobbitt’s plans for the future – on MoCo’s Most Famous with Joe Yasharoff. 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!

The longtime voice of University of Maryland basketball and football, Johnny Holliday, is this week’s guest on MoCo’s Most Famous. Holliday talks about the Terps’ chances in the NCAA Tournament, living in the same house in Montgomery County for almost 50 years and what he likes and doesn’t like about basketball today. Available Now on MyMCMedia, Overcast, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, RadioPublic, Spotify and Stitcher, Facebook, Pocketcasts and Twitter.