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Allison’s Book, Journaling Fame: A memoir of a life unhinged and on the record 

In the latest installment of the Allison Interviews Podcast, journalist and host Allison Kugel talks with actor Todd Bridges, about his television career, including Diff’rent Strokes, Little House on the Prairie, Roots, Everybody Hates Chris and the Comedy Central animated series Everybody Still Hates Chris; staying sober for 32 years, finding G-d, parenting, and his new podcast Dang! With his wife and co-host Bettijo Bridges.

Todd’s Links

Dang! Podcast: https://www.dangpodcast.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/toddbridges

Everybody Still Hates Chris (Comedy Central: https://www.cc.com/video-clips/0v4k5b

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Allison’s Memoir on entertainment journalism and mental health: https://shorturl.at/rIUW2

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For the past seven decades, Tim Matheson has been an on-screen favorite in Hollywood. In his debut memoir, Damn Glad to Meet You, Tim takes fans behind-the-scenes of his illustrious career, and reveals what it was like to learn from and work alongside the greats, including Lucille Ball, Dick Van Dyke, Steven Spielberg, and Aaron Sorkin. Tim also talks about how he transitioned from acting to directing, the role in The West Wing that nabbed him two Emmy nominations–and more.

Tim Matheson has starred in: Bonanza, Animal House, Fletch, The West Wing and the hit Netflix series, Virgin River.

Filled to the brim with both riveting stories of the ever-changing entertainment industry and illuminating insight via “film school boot camp” sidebars; readers everywhere are going to be “damn glad” they read this fascinating memoir. 

Tim Matheson’s Links

Memoir: Available on Amazon

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tim_matheson_official

Hachette Books: https://www.hachettebookgroup.com/articles/tim-matheson-damn-glad-to-meet-you-tour/

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Allison’s Memoir on entertainment journalism and mental health: https://shorturl.at/rIUW2

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Alexandra Paul has appeared in over 100 feature films and television programs, usually as the first or second female lead. She is internationally recognized for her 5-year starring role as Lt. Stephanie Holden in the iconic television series Baywatch. 

Alexandra co-hosts a weekly podcast, Switch4Good which has 5 million downloads and YouTube views. It was awarded Mercy for Animals’ Best Vegan Podcast in 2024. 

Alexandra was honored by the ACLU of Southern California as their 2005 Activist of the Year for her long history of fighting for the environment, voting rights and peace issues. In 2014, Last Chance for Animals named her and her brother Jonathan “Vegans of the Year.” In 1997, the United Nations commended Alexandra for her work on human overpopulation.

A dedicated and accomplished athlete, in 1997, Alexandra trained for the World Ironman Championship in Hawaii (a grueling 2.4 mile swim, 112 mile bike ride, and 26.2 mile marathon), which she completed in 13:18:52. In 2012, Alexandra swam around Key West, a 12.5 mile race. In 2014, she swam the 22 km Reto Acapulco off the coast of Mexico. 

Alexandra has a TEDx talk on the benefits of a one child family which currently has 678,000 views. 

In 2000, Alexandra and her identical twin sister Caroline were the recipients of the Christopher Street West Rainbow Award for their ongoing support of gay and lesbian rights. 

Alexandra Paul’s Links

Switch4Good Podcast: https://alexandrapaul.com/podcast/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alexandra_actress

URL: https://alexandrapaul.com/

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Subscribe to the audio podcast of Allison Interviews on Apple Podcasts and Spotify, and subscribe to the video podcast on YouTube. :-)

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Allison’s Memoir on entertainment journalism and mental health: https://shorturl.at/rIUW2

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Andrea Giovino Show Notes:

Andrea Giovino is the author of “Divorced From The Mob,” a television personality, crime commentator, motivational speaker, mom and grandmother. She has most recently appeared in the top rated Netflix docu-series, Get Gotti. 

Born and raised in Brooklyn, NY in a family of 10 children, Andrea was exposed to a life of crime at a young age as her mother ran illegal card gambling games for the neighborhood wise guys like Crazy Joe Gallo. She spent most of her youth and early adulthood around some of the most infamous mafia men and their associates. After being arrested on RICO charges for organized crime & having a contract out on her life, Andrea turned her life around, moved to the suburbs and has spent the last 30+ years sharing her life experiences in hopes of motivating other women and men to live a healthier and more normal lifestyle. Her podcast, The Andrea Giovino Show, is available on YouTube.

Andrea’s Links

The Andrea Giovino Show: https://www.youtube.com/@AndreaGiovino1

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/andreagiovino

Subscribe to the audio podcast of Allison Interviews on Apple Podcasts and Spotify, and subscribe to the video podcast on YouTube. :-)

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Rachel Uchitel has been in the public spotlight for many reasons, but through scandals, love, loss and more, she has always come out stronger. She just launched her own successful podcast “Miss Understood with Rachel Uchitel,” an interview style podcast that delves into the lives of others like her who have been reduced to a single headline. Within weeks of its debut, the show soared to number 3 at the top of the entertainment news charts and has received global media attention, holding steady in the top 100 in 11 countries. 

Rachel’s Links

Rachel’s Personal Instagram: http://instagram.com/racheluchitelnyc/

Miss Understood Podcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/missunderstoodwithrachel

Rachel’s Podcast: https://missunderstoodpodcast.com/

Subscribe to the audio podcast of Allison Interviews on Apple Podcasts and Spotify, and subscribe to the video podcast on YouTube. :-)

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Allison’s Memoir on entertainment journalism and mental health: https://shorturl.at/rIUW2

Mayte is a renowned triple threat performer-an accomplished dancer, actor and singer/ songwriter, as well as the best-selling author of a memoir, "The Most Beautiful: My Life with Prince." Mayte's professional dance career began early in her life when Prince observed a video of her dancing and immediately took an interest in her talent, eventually leading to an offer to join Prince's New Power Generation (NPG) performance group. She danced with the NPG from 1992 to 1996. Mayte has appeared in numerous music videos, tours, award shows, and international television shows. She has gone on to provide dance instruction to artists such as Britney Spears, and continues to teach dance with limitless enthusiasm. 

While working with Prince, Mayte recorded and released her debut album Child of the Sun, which charted in Europe; the video of which was in rotation on MTV Europe and on VH1 in the US. She was a songwriter and singer on various Prince and NPG albums and directed many of Prince's tours and music videos. Mayte's acting film credits include roles in New Regency’s Firehouse Dog; Life Is Hot in Cracktown; Ego; and Psych. She has appeared in Lifetime's Army Wives, NBC's Las Vegas, TNT's The Closer, FX's hit show Nip/Tuck and VHT's Hollywood Exes. 

Mayte is actively involved with animal rescue efforts. In 2013, she founded Mayte's Rescue, a 501c3 non-profit. The organization has rescued and placed hundreds of dogs with caring and responsible dog lovers. In 2019, Mayte and her business partner, Veronica Vega-Stiles, opened up Boogie Time, an all-things-puppy-related boutique in Las Vegas. With new projects always in the works, Mayte looks forward to serving Live 4 Love Charities' philanthropic mission, fully engaged in her motto —Keep Moving, Keep Learning, and Keep Loving!

Mayte’s Links

Live 4 Love: https://live4lovecharities.org/

Website: https://mayte.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/maytejannell/?hl=en

Mayte’s Rescue IG: https://www.instagram.com/maytesrescue/?hl=en

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Allison’s Memoir on entertainment journalism and mental health: https://shorturl.at/rIUW2

Dita Von Teese is internationally recognized as the Queen of Burlesque, having set a history-making benchmark for this great American art form with unrivaled artistry, flair and sophistication as performer, creative director, choreographer and producer.

Dita’s signature style has made her muse to some of the greatest couturiers and designers—influencing their collections, appearing on their runways, in their campaigns and on red carpets. She has also led the way as designer, collaborator and entrepreneur, with eponymous forays in fashion, beauty, music, publishing, spirits and entertainment production. 

On stage, Dita is renowned for delighting audiences with a nonpareil romp into fantasy and spectacle, her original and ornate sets and haute couture costumes swathed in Swarovski crystals dazzling transcontinental audiences. Jean-Paul Gaultier, Elie Saab, Alexis Mabille, Jenny Packham and Zuhair Murad are among the fashion designers who create looks for her performances, and her custom footwear is always by Christian Louboutin. Many of her most awe-inspiring costumes are realized in collaboration with legendary corsetier Mr. Pearl and burlesque star-turned-designer Catherine D’Lish.

So extraordinary are her performances and productions that Dita is a marquee ambassador worldwide for the artform. 

Taylor Swift tapped Dita to play a burlesque-styled fairy godmother to the pop icon’s Cinderella in the star-studded video “Bejeweled,” the chart-topping track off Swift’s 2022 bestselling album, Midnights. Dita even shares two of her trademark martini glasses in the video, the two icons taking a sparkling spin within them. Weeks before, Dita teased cinema goers across the globe in the 2022 critically acclaimed film “Don’t Worry Darling,” with Harry Styles, Florence Pugh and Olivia Wilde. 

It is a style that Dita has also taken to market with namesake collections in lingerie, gloves and jewelry; hats with Hood London; and a signature clothing collection in collaboration with Austrian-based designer Lena Hoschek that is in the works.

It always comes back to the curtain call, of course, and Dita’s four full-length revues are the grandest tours in burlesque history: “Strip, Strip, Hooray!” (2013-2016), “The Art of the Teese” (2017), “Dita Von Teese and the Copper Coupe” (2018), and “Glamonatrix” (2019 and 2022-2023).

These sensational spectaculars showcase a gender- and body-diverse cast of the crème de la crème of neo-burlesque performers, hailing from all over the world. In 2022, as in 2019 (a tour interrupted due to the pandemic), Dita and her star troupe staged “Glamonatrix” in historic theatres across Australia, New Zealand, Europe and the US—including five sold-out nights at the London Palladium, and packed houses at the prestigious Folies Bergère in Paris and Burgtheatre in Vienna. Dita made theatrical history bringing burlesque to the Opera Garnier Monte Carlo, with Prince Albert II of Monaco in attendance. 

Dita Von Teese Links

Tickets: https://www.ticketmaster.com/ditavegas

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ditavonteese

Website: https://dita.net/

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Leila Steinberg is a talent manager, educator, writer, poet, and founder of AIM4TheHeART, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to helping at-risk youth find their voice using an emotional literacy curriculum and writing workshops. She is the artist mentor and first manager of the late legendary rapper Tupac Shakur. They met when he was a student in her writing workshop, The Microphone Sessions, in the Oakland Bay area in the late 1980s. 

Leila’s friendship with and mentorship of Tupac Shakur extended from his teenage years until his death at age 25. In the 2017 Tupac biopic All Eyez On Me, Leila was played by actress Lauren Cohan. In 2023, Leila was interviewed and took part in the critically acclaimed FX and Hulu streamed television docu-series Dear Mama.

Today Leila Steinberg manages the rapper Earl Sweatshirt, formerly of Odd Future. 

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Leila Steinberg’s Links

Website: https://www.aim4theheart.org/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/leila_steinberg

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Tommy Davidson’s exceptional range – from stand-up comedy and acting to versatile music accomplishments – have earned him a reputation as an extraordinary performer who delivers no matter the arena. Best known as one of the stars of the hit television show In Living Color, Davidson’s visibility has allowed him to become a household name known for his innovative talent across all platforms. 

Davidson starred in Disney Channel’s beloved animated series The Proud Family (2001-05) and recently returned to topline their new hit, “The Proud Family: Louder and Prouder” (Disney +) wit season 2 premiering February 1, 2023. Other recent guest starring credits include CBS comedy series The Neighborhood, VH1’s hit A Black Lady Sketch Show; the Nick Cannon-directed Miracles Across 125th Street, BET+’s The Ms. Pat Show and the Netflix special Sarah Cooper: Everything’s Fine. 

The multihyphenate is perhaps best known for starring in the groundbreaking sketch comedy series In Living Color and becoming a standout with his impressions of Sammy Davis Jr., Michael Jackson and other entertainment icons. His performance on the series resulted in three Showtime specials: On Strength of New York, Illin’ in Philly, and Takin’ it to DC. Davidson also hosted and starred in the network’s Chocolate Sundaes Comedy Show, as well as three seasons of ABC’s Vacation Creation. 

Davidson voiced the series regular role of Cream Corn in the Adult Swim action-comedy spoof Black Dynamite, and has also made multiple guest appearances on shows like MTV’s Wild ‘N Out, BET’s Real Husbands of Hollywood and ABC’s Celebrity Wife Swap. He also recently headlined The Off Color Comedy Tour with Keenan Ivory Wayans, Shawn Wayans and David Alan Grier, and co-headlines with Katt Williams, Mike Epps and Martin Lawrence to sell out large venue audiences.

Davidson’s film credits include Spike Lee’s Bamboozled, Morgan Creek’s Juwanna Mann, Ace Ventura II: When Nature Calls opposite Jim Carrey, and Strictly Business opposite Halle Berry among others. He also recently starred in the feature documentaries I Am Comic opposite Tim Allen and Lewis Black, and Dying Laughing alongside Jamie Foxx, Kevin Hart, Amy Schumer and Sarah Silverman

His recent critically lauded music duets include Sweet Reunion with multi-Grammy winner Dave Koz, I Know with A-list saxophonist, Richard Elliott. He just finished his third single, Stronger, with one of the greatest bands in the history of music, Earth Wind & Fire due for release next month.

Kensington Books published Davidson’s memoir Living in Color: What’s Funny About Me, recounting his personal triumphs after having been abandoned as in infant in 2020 achieving historic sales. 

Tommy Davidson’s Links

Website: https://www.thetommydavidson.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/therealtommycat/

Amazon: http://bit.ly/48VAcwP

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