Fascination Street

Lips Speak LouderTake a walk with me down Fascination Street, as I get to know Nashville based rock band Lips Speak Louder. In this episode, we get re-acquainted with previous guests Angela Lese and Rachel Brandsness. Each of these women had their own solo episode, where we got to know their back story. So we don't do that in this one. Instead, we discuss how they met, why they decided to start a band together, and why it was deemed necessary to make it a duo. Having been previously associated with the bands: Flarelight, The Dead Deads, Taco Mouth, Fingernails Are Pretty, Jax Hollow, and The Raelyn Nelson Band, and Emily Wolfe; this ultra-talented pair has developed their own unique sound. Rachel explains how she had to tinker with pedals and amps to manage a low end, fuller sound coming from her guitar, and the research that went into it. They explain where the name of their band comes from, and how they got Emily Wolfe to produce the album; which was recorded at Sweetwater Studios in Fort Wayne, Indiana. We

JimratTake a walk with me down Fascination Street, as I get to know the Boston Shoegaze band Jimrat. This group of musicians got together in the Boston area after meeting in college, and various music scenes. Jimrat consists of: Sam Dvorin, Josie Arthur, Emma DeLaRosa, Elicia Benavides, and Tim Ro. In this episode, I get them to tell the story of how each of them came to be in the band. Since they each came along in a fascinating way, they tell the story 'popcorn' style. All of them have recently graduated or are still in college. They basically went to different schools. We got musicians from Boston University, Suffolk, Berkley, and Emerson. Throughout the episode, each of them explains how they came to Boston, and why most of them equate the city to living in Albuquerque! From Covid, to the cartoon Tom & Jerry, these young guns talk about everything. Finally, we discuss their new album. It's called 'Instant' and is 'an audio-visual album'. Each of the 11 tracks on the record have a corresponding video c

Lorraine ZiffTake a walk with me down Fascination Street, as I get to know Lorraine Ziff: The Goddess of Slots. In this episode, we get to know Lorraine, and her early careers. She went to law school, then started her own paralegal company in Los Angeles. At the same time, Lorraine was beginning her acting career. Lorraine has appeared in dozens of film and television roles over the course of her storied career. Then one day, on a whim, she posted a video of her winning a nice little slot machine jackpot. The video went viral, and yet ANOTHER career was born! Drawing on her growing up near Yonkers Racetrack, she knew gamblers, and the gambler mindset. Lorraine began making more and more slot machine related videos, amassing a social media following numbering the hundreds of thousands! Thus, The Goddess of Slots was born. Now a bonafide gambling personality and celebrity; Lorraine spends half of her time acting in film and television projects (with 2 series about to be released) and the other half of her time

Randee Dawn. Take a walk with me down Fascination Street, as I get to know Randee dawn. Randee is a journalist and author. In this episode we get to know Randee from her early days in Bensonhurst Brookly, to her NPR day, and even her beginnings as a music journalist. Randee shares stories about working with The Trashcan Sinatras, and Adam Schlesinger. She tells us about how her music fan attitude led to her working with the band Ivy, which turned into some really fascinating online blog projects. Then we discuss how she came to write for Alternative Press magazine, The Hollywood Reporter, and Soap Opera Digest, basically at the same time. In her soap opera journalism career, she covered: One Life To Live, Another World, and maybe just a bit on Passions!. Naturally I ask her about her interviewing Vincent D'Onofrio about the Forest Witaker TV show The Godfather of Harlem. Even though Randee made a bit of a name for herself writing Law & Order speculative fiction, that didn't come up in her interview with V

Eric & Eliza RobertsTake a walk with me down Fascination Street, as I get to know Eric & Eliza Roberts. You know Eric from over 800 acting projects: including The Pope Of Greenwich Village, Runaway Train, The Specialist, The Righteous Gemstones, Star 80, King of the Gypsies, and several hundred more. You know his wife Eliza from many, many projects like: The Howdy Doody Show, Animal House, Lois & Clark, and Dr. Who; as well as casting and producing in a myriad of other film and television projects. In this episode, we get to know where and how each of them grew up, and what got them into the industry. We also get to hear their love story. I love finding out how couples met, and this is a great story! Next, we launch into everything from movies and TV shows, and their experiences on those sets. Eliza shares stories of trying to help spouses & girlfriends of actors feel more comfortable with their partners doing love scenes. Eric shares behind the scenes stories on the sets of The Specialist (wi

Kevin BrewerTake a walk with me down Fascination Street as I get to know Kevin Brewer. Kevin is a U.S. Navy veteran, who served for 7 years in multiple overseas duty stations; before being employed by both the Department of Justice (DOJ) & the Department of Defense (DOD). In this episode, we chat about why he joined the Navy, and what his job was in it. We discuss his duties as a cryptologic technician, and what his role was in narco terrorism, money laundering, drug trafficking, counterintelligence, and counter terrorism. Kevin has Top Secret security clearance, and I ask him to tell me all of the secrets! He politely declines, and then we move onto his health issues. While serving in Afghanistan, Kevin developed several serious health issues which culminated in his gaining nearly 100 pounds, and an inability to exercise, run, or even walk to the refrigerator. He was in a pretty dark place both physically and emotionally. He ended up doing a ton of online research and began to figure out some things that

Jonathan GrossmanTake a walk with me down Fascination Street as I get to know Jonathan Grossman. Known in some circles as Johnny Keys; Jon is the keyboard player for the rock band Uncle Lucius. Jon is from Kentucky, and how he became part of this kickass south Texas band is a good story, I get him to tell it to me in this episode. We discuss his growing up in Lexington and what he was doing after school before the universe aligned, and Uncle Lucius rolled into his town. We also chat about other bands that have keyboard players in them, and even some fake movie bands that do. Uncle Lucius took a bit of a break a few years ago, and then through a series of magical events, they were almost forced back together. The television show Yellowstone happened to feature an Uncle Lucius song in the fourth episode of the first season. The song caught fire all over again and made the band look into getting back together to see what they had left in the tank. As it turns out, they had quite a lot. Since then, they have rele

Frank MeyerTake a walk with me down Fascination Street as I get to know Frank Meyer. Frank has been a staple in the film, television & punk scene for the past 30+ years. In this episode, we chat about his growing up with some of the most supportive parents of their era. Frank's folks not only supported his hopes and dreams, but they also even took him to see some of the most iconic acts of all time. Frank recounts stories of seeing The Blues Brothers live, and even Eddie Murphy's Raw & Delirious shows. Then we get into some of Frank's work in television & film. Having spent several years with the G4 channel, Frank was an early podcaster with a very cool insight into the format. We bounce all over the place in this one. Frank shares stories of his antics with some of music's greats; like Cherie Currie, David Lee Roth, Dave Mustane, Van Halen, and Eddie Spaghetti. I get him to explain why he wrote books about Phil Spector, The Ramones, and even his series From Dude To Dad. Frank not only has his own

J. R. StokesTake a walk with me down Fascination Street, as I get to know filmmaker J.R. Stokes. J.R. is a writer, director, actor, producer from Staten Island, NY. In this episode, we chat about growing up in SINY, and what made him want to become a filmmaker. He shares stories of making his first Machinimas, and a short film or two leading up to his debut full length film. His previous short 'Headstone of Solitude' gave him the experience and the confidence to make his first feature film. During high school, J. R. developed what would become his initial full-length effort: 'Edge X'. As we discuss his latest project, we dive into what he decided to make a full-length feature film fresh out of high school, and why he chose such dark subject matter. He is also kind enough to share how a high schooler is able to afford to make a full-length feature film, so take notes! 'Edge X' is a film about adolescent drug addiction, and its pitfalls. In their first film; 'Edge X' stars: Cadence Meier, Alexandra Totillo, Ran

The Dutch KillsTake a walk with me down Fascination Street, as I get to know the Brooklyn based indie rock band The Dutch Kills. In this episode, we chat about how the band got together, and how involved NYU was in the process. The Dutch Kills consists of: Julia (vocals / guitar), Maxine (bass), Alec (guitar), and Heather (drums). We also discuss NYC as a whole, improv, the N train, to Astoria, and some community rehearsal spaces for NYC bands. The members are from all over the US, so we talk about why they left their towns of Fayetteville, Minneapolis, and Wilmington. We do mention Dawson's Creek (Joey & Pacey Forever!), before moving into their actual music. Their debut EP, called The Rot, was released last year, and their new single Cheap Love was released last month. Look for new singles to drop in a month or two but keep tuned to their channels for more updates and tour info. Also, if you have a time machine, go back to last week and check out their several unofficial shows at SXSW in Austin. The ban

Bo DonaldsonTake a walk with me down Fascination Street as I get to know Bo Donaldson. Bo Donaldson and the Heywoods had the number one song in America in June of 1974; with the timeless hit "Billy, Don't Be a Hero". They also had hits on the charts all throughout the 70's. In this episode, we chat about how he got into music, and how his band came to be. Bo shares great stories about his mom deciding that she was going to meet Dick Clark and get him to make her son's band famous.... and then she did it! We also discuss some of the band's early days, where they opened for The Osmonds for over 300 shows. I pry just a bit into Bo's personal life and try to get to the bottom of some of the rumors about him dating Valerie Bertinelli before Eddie Van Halen. Along the way, we chat about each of the charting hits for the band, other fun Dick Clark stories, some previous guests of this show, Bo's real age, and why on earth he likes Cincinnati's Skyline chili so darn much! Plus, he lets me play their number one hit, a

Gerry Rasmussen Take a walk with me down Fascination Street as I get to know Canadian cartoonist Gerry Rasmussen. In this episode, we chat about how Gerry got into drawing, and how he started making money with his artistic skills while still in elementary school by selling on the spot drawings of 'Denis the Menace' to fellow school kids. Next, we get into how he met his co-creator, Gary Delainey at art school. Together, they produce a daily comic strip called 'Betty'. They have been making this comic strip for nearly 50 years, and due to its runs in The Edmonton Journal, and other publications; it is one of the most recognized comics in Canada! Being featured on GoComics.com and syndicated by King Features doesn't hurt either! 'Betty' has been popularized throughout modern popular culture for several decades; even a fun tie-in with The Edmonton Oilers hockey organization. We also touch on some of the children's books Gerry has illustrated, such as 'Sniffy the Beagle' with author Rita Eagle; and the sports boo

Chris MaherTake a walk with me down Fascination Street, as I get to know Chris Maher. Chris is an actor who currently has 8 projects in either pre or post production. In this episode, we chat about his growing up in Council Bluffs, Iowa, and the long and winding path he took to find acting. After spending some post graduate time in China to study finance, and a stint in law school, Chris gets a call to become a runway model. This led to some work in commercials, and eventually roles in short & feature films. We cover his entire journey from traveling the world with his school choir, to his time in China, Chicago, and Miami. Coincidently, we each share a story about Power Rangers and Iowa. Finally, we discuss each of his 8 forthcoming projects. I ask him about all of them, which takes us on several detours. Some of his friends and co stars are previous guests of the show. This episode was recorded about a week before the premier of his new film Boardwalk Winter. Keep your eyes peeled for this fella! Many o

Peter JasonPeter passed away on February 20, 2025.Take a walk with me down Fascination Street as I get to know veteran actor Peter Jason. In his episode we chat about why he became an actor, and some of his more memorable roles. We talk about working on 48 Hours with director Walter Hill, his connection to Frank Marshall, as well as working with John Carpenter, and some of the fun he has had on the sets of Deadwood and Baskets.Then we jump into his new film Deep In The Forest; which is released TOMORROW! (May 31st). NO SPOILERS!! But he does lay out the premise of the film and it sounds FASCINATING!Follow Peter on social media:Insta: PeterJason99FB: Peter JasonWebsite: PeterJason.net

Marcus MonroeTake a walk with me down Fascination Street as I get to know Marcus Monroe. Marcus is a comedian now, but was a juggler for many, many years. I guess he is still both. In this episode, we chat about why Marcus decided to learn magic as a child, and then not long after, decided to be a juggler. He tells me a few stories from his juggling days; including some of his time juggling on various cruise ships. From Celebrity Cruises, to Disney Cruise, Marcus has performed on them all. He even tells a crazy story about how he got to juggle on Late Night With David Letterman, and an even more insane story about the time he was the opening act for the band Cake. Marcus and I exchange Neil Patrick Harris stories. Mine makes me look like a psychopath, his turns out pretty good! Next we turn to comedy. Marcus explains why he decided to get into comedy, and we talk about his "Subway Series"; which is how I found him. He releases videos of him telling VERY corny jokes to unsuspecting NYC commuters. These videos

JoJo GarzaTake a walk with me down Fascination Street as I get to know JoJo Garza. JoJo is the bass player for the Grammy winning Texican Rock band Los Lonely Boys. In this episode, we chat about how the Garza brothers got together and became a rock band. JoJo explains how his dad taught them all how to play nusic from a very early age. It doesn't hurt that both sides of the family have music royalty and Tejano music icons. Of course we discuss their meteoric rise to fame with their 2003 mega hit song HEAVEN, and some of the amazing things that came with it's success. JoJo shares some fun stories about meeting some of his music idols, and even a heart warming tale of Willie Nelson giving the Garza brothers the shirt off his back... sort of. Los Lonely Boys are back, with their first new album in 11 years. RESURRECTION is exactly what you want from another Los Lonely Boys album. There are several hit singles on the new record, and JoJo let's me play my favorite track from it!. Catch Los Lonely Boys on their na

Roger MookingTake a walk with me down Fascination Street as I get to know Roger Mooking. Roger is a chef, a TV personality, a musician, artist, and author. In this episode, we chat about why his family moved from Trinidad to Edmonton, Alberta when he was a toddler. Then we get into why he got into music, and we cover his music career highlights; including MC Mystic, The Maximum Definitive, and Bass Is Base.  Next, we discuss why he decided to get into the culinary world, and how he ended up getting his first TV show. Of course we talk about the many shows that have followed, even to this very day. I fanboy a little bit about when I first discovered Roger, and he lets me plat my favorite song of his. Then we talk about his relationship with time, and time as a concept itself. Finally, we do a deep dive into his newest album and accompanying book. The album is called 'SoundBites', and the book is called 'Curious Sounds'. Spoiler alert... Roger lets me play my favorite song from the new album! Both are available

Cindy MichTake a walk with me down Fascination Street as I get to know Cindy Mich. Cindy is an award-winning journalist, as well as a media personality, film maker, and the founder of the Art Is Alive Film Festival. In this episode, we chat about how she became a journalist and eventually a film maker and film festival founder. From growing up in Milwaukee, to becoming involved with television and film, Cindy's road has been fascinating to say the least. A few years ago, Cindy lost Michael. He was her best friend, her partner, her inspiration, and her lover. We spend a good bit of this episode getting to know Michael, and how impactful he was in her life. Cindy shares fun stories, and anecdotes about Michael, including how he inspired her to make everything from short films to TV series, to magazines, and more. We dive into her Art Is Alive magazine, her Art Is Alive Film Festival, and so much more. Cindy tells me about how she became a judge for the American Film Institute and spends some time talking about

Ryan CampbellTake a walk with me down Fascination Street as I get to know Ryan Campbell. In this episode, Ryan and I chat about how he met lifelong friend & fellow rapper Sam Lachow. Ryan explains how he grew up in 'The Game', and learned a trade from his dad.... sort of. Then we talk about how Ryan got into music; specifically rap music. He has been a featured artist on several albums from a multitude of different artists over the years. Ryan shares some experiences from growing up in and around Seattle, and how he got into the legal cannabis dispensary business. Sam Lachow & Ryan Campbell recently released a new album called Octopus. This marks Ryan's debut album, where he is not only a features artist. We discuss when this album was written, how long it took to get made, and why it took that long. We talk a little bit about Sam's most recent album The Left-Handed Bandit, which came out only a few months prior and heavily features Ryan. Both records were written at the same time and recorded fairly

Alex "AX" FosterTake a walk with me down Fascination Street as I get to know Alex Foster. AX Foster is a former Senior Assistant State's Attorney for the state of Maryland. He practiced as a prosecutor in that office for twenty years before starting his own firm and becoming a defense attorney. After 15 or so years in that role; AX decided the time was right to write his first legal thriller novel called 'Gavel to Gavel'. In this episode, we chat about his previous career as an actor for 7 years; where he had tons of roles on several different daytime soap operas, and why he decided to switch gears and become a lawyer. Then we get into some of his State's Attorney days. We talk about his prosecuting criminal law where the cases ranged from drugs, gangs, animal cruelty, and even murder. Of course I find out why he decided to change sides and become a defense lawyer. We talk about the differences in the field, as well as some of the hurdles to keeping a law practice going. Finally, AX tells me why he decided to