Send a text

He covered the O.J. Simpson trial, the Rodney King riots, the Northridge earthquake, Columbine, the Las Vegas mass shooting, and Michael Jackson’s death. For 58 years, Hal Eisner was there — camera rolling, microphone in hand — for the moments that defined Los Angeles and shook the nation.
But here’s what makes his story different: he never planned any of it.
In this episode, the legendary FOX 11 and KCOP reporter joins us to talk about his new memoir, An Accidental Career: My Fifty-Eight-Year Adventure as a Broadcast News Reporter — and the conversation goes everywhere. 

From accidentally reporting false information live on air to getting knocked unconscious by the Northridge earthquake. From intimate moments with Dick Van Dyke and George Clooney to being struck by a drunk driver on Hollywood Boulevard in the middle of a live shoot. 

From launching a mentorship camp that accidentally played matchmaker — to retiring on the exact anniversary of the day he started, only to watch LA burn from a cruise ship days later.
Hal Eisner is funny, sharp, honest, and deeply human. This one will stay with you.

Pick up your copy of Hal’s new book “My Accidental Career.”

https://haleisner.com/

🎙️ New episodes every week. Subscribe, rate & review Back to Pop wherever you listen.

Theme music composed by Ron Wasserman 

Audio composed and edited by 

Lauren M. Antoine 

Website: 

Composer Ron Wasserman 

Back To Pop 

https://lantoine2.wixsite.com/portfolio

Instagram/ 

https://www.instagram.com/backtopopmedia?igsh=MTd0dGNid2hjdWd5cA%3D%3D&utm_source=qr

https://www.instagram.com/4ronwasserman?igsh=MTR6ZGZ5dXJzYXN3eQ==

Ever had an idea for an action figure, or maybe you just wish one had been made? Well at Lecroy Toys you don't have to wait anymore, head over and tell Matthew we sent you! https://www.instagram.com/lecroystoys?igsh=MW1ndWE5cHhzaGQ3dw==

Support the show

Ever had an idea for an action figure, or maybe you just wish one had been made? Well at Lecroy Toys you don't have to wait anymore, head over and tell Matthew we sent you! https://www.instagram.com/lecroystoys?igsh=MW1ndWE5cHhzaGQ3dw==

Send a text

People know the kicks. The costumes. The Christmas magic.

But they don’t always know what it cost to stand on that line — and what it takes to stay whole after you do.

This week on Back to Pop, we sit down with Jennifer Jones — history-maker, dancer, author, and survivor — who became the first Black Rockette at Radio City Music Hall in 1987. What followed wasn’t just applause. It was pressure, resistance, representation, and a level of scrutiny few could imagine.

Jennifer opens up about:

• The audition room where courage mattered as much as choreography

• Becoming “the first” in an institution built on uniformity

• Hate mail, historic milestones, and finding out through the news

• Performing at Super Bowl XXII and on Broadway in 42nd Street

• The physical reality behind “precision”

• And surviving stage III colon cancer — and choosing to live differently afterward

We talk about her children’s book On the Line, her powerful memoir pulling back the velvet curtain, and what legacy really means when your body, your art, and your identity have all been tested.

This isn’t just a story about breaking barriers.

It’s about what happens after you do.

Jennifer is also being honored in the All-Star History Exhibit on February 19 and recognized at the Museum of Broadway on February 22 — and we discuss what those milestones mean in the context of her full journey.

If you’ve ever stood in a room wondering whether you belong — this conversation is for you.

🎧 Listen now.

For colorectal cancer screening guidelines, visit the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force: https://www.uspreventiveservicestaskforce.org

Support dancers facing cancer through I’m A Dancer Against Cancer: https://imadanceragainstcancer.org

Theme music composed by Ron Wasserman 

Audio composed and edited by 

Lauren M. Antoine 

Website: 

Composer Ron Wasserman 

Back To Pop 

https://lantoine2.wixsite.com/portfolio

Instagram/ 

https://www.instagram.com/backtopopmedia?igsh=MTd0dGNid2hjdWd5cA%3D%3D&utm_source=qr

https://www.instagram.com/4ronwasserman?igsh=MTR6ZGZ5dXJzYXN3eQ==

Ever had an idea for an action figure, or maybe you just wish one had been made? Well at Lecroy Toys you don't have to wait anymore, head over and tell Matthew we sent you! https://www.instagram.com/lecroystoys?igsh=MW1ndWE5cHhzaGQ3dw==

Support the show

Ever had an idea for an action figure, or maybe you just wish one had been made? Well at Lecroy Toys you don't have to wait anymore, head over and tell Matthew we sent you! https://www.instagram.com/lecroystoys?igsh=MW1ndWE5cHhzaGQ3dw==

Send a text

Comic Creator  Caitlin Yarsky joins us to discuss her journey from early creative impulses to becoming one of comics’ most distinctive visual storytellers. Known for her work on Coyotes, Bliss, Black Hammer, and He-Man and the Masters of the Universe, Yarsky shares insights into her creative process and evolution.

We explore how Coyotes became a breakthrough moment, the intentional balance of mythology and emotion in her work, and what she learned stepping into beloved universes like Black Hammer and Masters of the Universe. Yarsky discusses the shift to writing and drawing Living Hell, her latest project Untold Stories: Jace at Dark Horse, and how design choices—from lettering to pacing—shape emotional storytelling.

The conversation also examines the reality behind the phrase “comics have always been open to women,” offering perspective on industry access versus genuine creative space.
Topics covered: Early artistic development, the Coyotes-to-Bliss creative arc, craft and visual storytelling, working with legacy properties, the writer-artist experience, and navigating the comics industry as a woman! 

To learn more about Caitlin head over to her website https://www.caitlinyarsky.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/caitlinyarsky?igsh=ZjdvaGV1aWM0dGtq

Follow us: 

Theme music composed by Ron Wasserman 

Audio composed and edited by 

Lauren M. Antoine 

Website: 

Composer Ron Wasserman 

Back To Pop 

https://lantoine2.wixsite.com/portfolio

Instagram/ 

https://www.instagram.com/backtopopmedia?igsh=MTd0dGNid2hjdWd5cA%3D%3D&utm_source=qr

https://www.instagram.com/4ronwasserman?igsh=MTR6ZGZ5dXJzYXN3eQ==

Ever had an idea for an action figure, or maybe you just wish one had been made? Well at Lecroy Toys you don't have to wait anymore, head over and tell Matthew we sent you! https://www.instagram.com/lecroystoys?igsh=MW1ndWE5cHhzaGQ3dw==

Support the show

Ever had an idea for an action figure, or maybe you just wish one had been made? Well at Lecroy Toys you don't have to wait anymore, head over and tell Matthew we sent you! https://www.instagram.com/lecroystoys?igsh=MW1ndWE5cHhzaGQ3dw==

Send a text

What happens when a lifelong comic book fan decides to build the convention he always wanted to attend? You get TerrifiCon – Connecticut’s largest comic book convention and a love letter to creators and fans alike.

In this episode, we sit down with Mitch Hallock, the visionary behind TerrifiCon, to explore his journey from discovering Marvel Team-Up #12 as a kid to producing one of the Northeast’s most beloved pop culture events at Mohegan Sun.
Mitch shares the origin story every comic fan dreams about – how years of attending conventions up and down the East Coast sparked an idea: what if creators, not celebrities, were the real stars? We dive into the risks, the breakthroughs, and the relentless passion it took to make that vision a reality.

You’ll hear about:
∙The Marvel comic that changed everything for young Mitch
∙Why he chose Mohegan Sun and how he keeps each year fresh
∙His philosophy of putting creators first and building community
∙Behind-the-scenes moments from running a major convention
∙Connecticut’s overlooked but rich comic book history
∙What the future holds for cons in the streaming age
Whether you’re a convention regular, a comic book collector, or someone who just loves a great underdog story, this conversation celebrates what happens when fandom meets determination.

Guest: Mitch Hallock – Producer of TerrifiCon, CTGAMERCON creator, podcaster, and Connecticut’s self-proclaimed “King of the Nerds”

Grab your tickets now for March 14th - 16th https://www.ctgamercon.com/

TerrifiCon returns to Mohegan Sun in Connecticut August 7-9 2026. Visit  https://www.terrificon.com/ for the guest announcements and more! 

Podcast: 

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/terrificons-power-cosmic-podcast-with-mitch-and-jerry/id1215501150

https://theindycast.com/

https://pintocomics.com/

Youtube: 

https://youtube.com/@mitchedsexcellentadventure?si=5xN2eV6kKY9Fi-Ce

Theme music composed by Ron Wasserman 

Audio composed and edited by 

Lauren M. Antoine 

Website: 

Composer Ron Wasserman 

Back To Pop 

https://lantoine2.wixsite.com/portfolio

Instagram/ 

https://www.instagram.com/backtopopmedia?igsh=MTd0dGNid2hjdWd5cA%3D%3D&utm_source=qr

https://www.instagram.com/4ronwasserman?igsh=MTR6ZGZ5dXJzYXN3eQ==

Support the show

Ever had an idea for an action figure, or maybe you just wish one had been made? Well at Lecroy Toys you don't have to wait anymore, head over and tell Matthew we sent you! https://www.instagram.com/lecroystoys?igsh=MW1ndWE5cHhzaGQ3dw==

Send a text

The most unbelievable three-act story in pop culture.
Ron Fazio suited up for the Dallas Cowboys and Philadelphia Eagles. Then he became the man inside the costume in The Toxic Avenger Part II and Part III. Today, he saves lives as a cardiothoracic surgery professional.
In this episode, Ron shares:

∙Life in the NFL and the injury that ended his football career
∙Taking over the role of Toxie mid-production and the chaos of filming Parts II & III back-to-back for Troma
∙Wild behind-the-scenes stories from Japan, convention appearances, and Toxie’s enduring cult legacy
∙How a hospital stay sparked an unexpected calling that led him to medicine — and what it’s like when coworkers realize they’re working with The Toxic Avenger
This is a story about reinvention, resilience, and redefining what it means to be a hero.
🎧 Listen Now

Theme music composed by Ron Wasserman 

Audio composed and edited by 

Lauren M. Antoine 

Website: 

Composer Ron Wasserman 

Back To Pop 

https://lantoine2.wixsite.com/portfolio

Instagram/ 

https://www.instagram.com/backtopopmedia?igsh=MTd0dGNid2hjdWd5cA%3D%3D&utm_source=qr

https://www.instagram.com/4ronwasserman?igsh=MTR6ZGZ5dXJzYXN3eQ==

Back to Pop is your destination for conversations with creators shaping pop culture today.

Support the show

Ever had an idea for an action figure, or maybe you just wish one had been made? Well at Lecroy Toys you don't have to wait anymore, head over and tell Matthew we sent you! https://www.instagram.com/lecroystoys?igsh=MW1ndWE5cHhzaGQ3dw==

Send a text

Join us for an in-depth conversation with talented comics artist Patrick Piazzalunga as he shares his journey from Bergamo, Italy to the international comics scene.

Patrick opens up about his early days studying at the Scuola Internazionale di Comics in Florence, working as an inker on series like Dampyr, and developing his distinctive style that blends dynamic action, horror elements, and grindhouse aesthetics.

We dive deep into his latest project, Gunpowder Prophets (Mad Cave Studios), a ‘70s-style horror series written by Justin Jordan. Patrick discusses his creative collaboration with Jordan, the visual references that shaped the book’s gritty atmosphere, and his workflow bringing characters Huck and Marley to life on the page.

Whether you’re an aspiring artist, a comics fan, or curious about the international comics industry, Patrick offers valuable insights on making the leap from smaller projects to major publishers, navigating language barriers in the creative process, and staying inspired in the demanding world of sequential art.

Topics covered:
∙Early influences and Italian comics tradition
∙The transition from assistant work to leading artist roles
∙Creating the visual language of Gunpowder Prophets
∙Page production workflow and technical tools
∙Advice for non-native English speakers entering the industry
∙Staying creative and avoiding burnout

Follow Patrick’s work and pick up Gunpowder Prophets from Mad Cave Studios.

Follow Patrick Piazzalunga here 

https://www.instagram.com/patrickpiazzalungacomics?igsh=MTEyamp6dXIwZTkyNg==

Theme music composed by Ron Wasserman 

Audio composed and edited by 

Lauren M. Antoine 

Website: 

Composer Ron Wasserman 

Back To Pop 

https://lantoine2.wixsite.com/portfolio

Instagram/ 

https://www.instagram.com/backtopopmedia?igsh=MTd0dGNid2hjdWd5cA%3D%3D&utm_source=qr

https://www.instagram.com/4ronwasserman?igsh=MTR6ZGZ5dXJzYXN3eQ==

Support the show

Ever had an idea for an action figure, or maybe you just wish one had been made? Well at Lecroy Toys you don't have to wait anymore, head over and tell Matthew we sent you! https://www.instagram.com/lecroystoys?igsh=MW1ndWE5cHhzaGQ3dw==

Send a text

Every line in a comic tells a story. Some shout. Others whisper.
Today on Back to Pop, we’re sitting down with Keith Williams — an inker who’s defined the look of Superman, The Phantom, and so many heroes we grew up with. This isn’t just a career retrospective. It’s a conversation about craft, rhythm, and what it means to tell stories one line at a time.

From a childhood moment with Batman #184 to over a decade drawing The Phantom, from Marvel’s legendary bullpen under John Romita Sr. to redefining Superman alongside John Byrne, Keith takes us behind the ink to reveal what makes a line feel alive.

We explore:
∙How a single comic from his grandmother changed everything
∙What it means to learn the trade in Marvel’s bullpen
∙The difference between tracing and storytelling with ink
∙The unique challenge of daily adventure strips
∙Why rhythm and restraint define great comic art
∙What this generation of artists left behind for the next
This is what comic history looks like when it’s drawn by hand — one confident, intentional stroke at a time.
New episodes of Back to Pop drop every Thursday at 6 AM Eastern.

Theme music composed by Ron Wasserman 

Audio composed and edited by 

Lauren M. Antoine 

Website: 

Composer Ron Wasserman 

Back To Pop 

https://lantoine2.wixsite.com/portfolio

Instagram/ 

https://www.instagram.com/backtopopmedia?igsh=MTd0dGNid2hjdWd5cA%3D%3D&utm_source=qr

https://www.instagram.com/4ronwasserman?igsh=MTR6ZGZ5dXJzYXN3eQ==

Ever had an idea for an action figure, or maybe you just wish one had been made? Well at Lecroy Toys you don't have to wait anymore, head over and tell Matthew we sent you! https://www.instagram.com/lecroystoys?igsh=MW1ndWE5cHhza

Support the show

Ever had an idea for an action figure, or maybe you just wish one had been made? Well at Lecroy Toys you don't have to wait anymore, head over and tell Matthew we sent you! https://www.instagram.com/lecroystoys?igsh=MW1ndWE5cHhzaGQ3dw==

Send a text

What happens when a classically trained flutist who beatboxed with Parliament-Funkadelic picks up a pen and starts drawing worlds? You get Afua Richardson — musician, illustrator, mythmaker, and cultural architect whose work refuses to stay inside the lines.
In this soul-stirring 60-minute conversation, we trace Afua’s journey from Carnegie Hall at eleven to the panels of Marvel’s Black Panther: World of Wakanda, where she wove Adinkra symbols and ancestral memory into every frame. We talk about her alter ego “Docta Foo,” the power of self-taught artistry in gatekept spaces, and why mermaids aren’t just fantasy — they’re spiritual revolution.
This isn’t your typical artist interview. We’re going deep into the waters of feminine imagination, cultural reclamation, and what it means to create mirrors so people can see they already belong. Afua shares why her current project Aquarius: The Book of Merr demands a soundtrack, how anger became calm through alter egos (featuring the Bo Jackson story you’ve never heard), and what the ancestors whisper when you’re drawing love between Black women.
We explore:
∙Music as first language, art as second sight
∙Building your own door when gatekeepers won’t open theirs
∙Translating feminine strength into visual mythology
∙Water as emotional weight, softness as revolutionary act
∙The difference between prayer, protest, and play in creative work
For the young artist with a sketchbook who’s been told their stories are “too much,” for anyone who’s ever felt like they’re dancing between disciplines rather than choosing one, for souls who understand that myth isn’t escape but reimagining — this one’s for you.
Connect with Afua:
∙Instagram: @afuarichardson
∙Website: www.afuarichardson.com
∙Support Aquarius: The Book of Merr
This is rhythm in line form. This is ink with breath in it.

Theme music composed by Ron Wasserman 

Audio composed and edited by 

Lauren M. Antoine 

Website: 

Composer Ron Wasserman 

Back To Pop 

Instagram/ 

https://www.instagram.com/backtopopmedia?igsh=MTd0dGNid2hjdWd5cA%3D%3D&utm_source=qr

https://www.instagram.com/4ronwasserman?igsh=MTR6ZGZ5dXJzYXN3eQ==

Support the show

Ever had an idea for an action figure, or maybe you just wish one had been made? Well at Lecroy Toys you don't have to wait anymore, head over and tell Matthew we sent you! https://www.instagram.com/lecroystoys?igsh=MW1ndWE5cHhzaGQ3dw==

Send a text

She was a five-time World Karate Champion before the world even knew her name. Then Hong Kong discovered her, and Hollywood spent the next three decades trying to keep up.

From the high-octane streets of 1980s Hong Kong in Yes, Madam! to the cult-classic grit of China O’Brien and her latest powerhouse project Black Creek, Cynthia Rothrock didn’t just join the action genre—she redefined it.

In this career-spanning deep dive, Cynthia joins Back to Pop to reveal how a 13-year-old girl from Pennsylvania became a global icon.

Inside the Episode:

• The Leap of Faith: Stepping onto a plane to Hong Kong in 1984 with no acting experience and zero Cantonese.

• Golden Era Greatness: What it was really like filming with Michelle Yeoh and training with Jackie Chan’s legendary stunt team.

• Survival of the Fittest: The physical toll of doing her own stunts in the world’s most dangerous film industry.

• Building a Legacy: Transitioning from "The Queen of Video" to taking total creative control with Black Creek.

• The Philosophy of the Kick: Why discipline on the mat translates to resilience in life.

This isn’t just a celebration of fight choreography—it’s a masterclass in conviction, courage, and carving your own path when the door is locked.

Connect with the Legend:

🎬 Stream: Black Creek (Available now)

🎧 Follow: Back to Pop for more deep dives into the icons of pop culture.

Theme music composed by Ron Wasserman 

Audio composed and edited by 

Lauren M. Antoine 

Website: 

Composer Ron Wasserman 

Back To Pop 

Instagram/ 

https://www.instagram.com/backtopopmedia?igsh=MTd0dGNid2hjdWd5cA%3D%3D&utm_source=qr

https://www.instagram.com/4ronwasserman?igsh=MTR6ZGZ5dXJzYXN3eQ==

Support the show

Ever had an idea for an action figure, or maybe you just wish one had been made? Well at Lecroy Toys you don't have to wait anymore, head over and tell Matthew we sent you! https://www.instagram.com/lecroystoys?igsh=MW1ndWE5cHhzaGQ3dw==

Send a text

In December of 1993, a small team of artists was handed an impossible assignment: take a direct-to-video project, pivot to a theatrical film, and deliver it in just eight months.

It should’ve been a disaster.

Instead, it became the gold standard.

This week on Back To Pop, we’re celebrating Batman: Mask of the Phantasm—a noir tragedy wrapped in a mystery, draped in Art Deco shadows that still haven’t faded. Decades later, fans don’t just call it a great animated film… many call it the most definitive Batman story ever put on screen.

And today, we’re joined by the architects who built it:

Alan Burnett (writer), Kevin Altieri (director), and Brad Rader (artist/storyboard).

We go deep on:

• The theatrical pivot: shifting from DTV to widescreen filmmaking under insane deadlines
• The graveyard sequence: crafting grief and guilt before a single line is spoken
• Andrea Beaumont’s “Bacall energy”: elegance, danger, and timing that sells the heartbreak
• Phantasm vs. Joker: silent mythic terror colliding with chaotic noir violence
• The World’s Fair finale: spectacle, storyboarding collaboration, and that haunting final image

By the end, we’re left with the question that still stings: did Batman win… or did Bruce lose everything?

Merry Christmas, Gotham. Go back to the graveyard. Go back to the World’s Fair. And go rewatch the masterpiece.

🎧 Listen now and celebrate Mask of the Phantasm with us.

Connect with Back to Pop:

• Website: https://www.backtopopmedia.com/

•   Composer Ron Wasserman 

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/backtopopmedia?igsh=MTd0dGNid2hjdWd5cA%3D%3D&utm_source=qr

https://www.instagram.com/4ronwasserman?igsh=MTR6ZGZ5dXJzYXN3eQ==

Theme music composed by Ron Wasserman 

Audio composed and edited by 

Lauren M. Antoine 

Alex Ray - "Galaxy Kid"  custom background song

Support the show

If you’re looking for comics then stop by Sean’s shop here’s the link.

https://www.etsy.com/listing/1700957263/custom-listing-mc-the-last-will-and?click_key=10e3b2dbec164f3e4e3998d180f71c4828a47e9c%3A1700957263&click_sum=732fa5f1&ref=shop_home_active_1&frs=1&sts=1

Support the show

Ever had an idea for an action figure, or maybe you just wish one had been made? Well at Lecroy Toys you don't have to wait anymore, head over and tell Matthew we sent you! https://www.instagram.com/lecroystoys?igsh=MW1ndWE5cHhzaGQ3dw==