Bob Barry's Unearthed Interviews

It was Sept. 4, 1964 that the Beatles appeared at the Milwaukee Arena. If you're a Beatles fan, chances are you've read-or at least heard of-one of the finest books ever written about the Fab Four: "The Beatles Forever." Long before the internet and endless documentaries, one author stood out for his meticulous research, engaging storytelling, and deep appreciation of the music that changed the world. That author was Nicholas Schaffner. Nick wasn't just a writer, he was a passionate music historian whose work also explored Pink Floyd, the British Invasion and the remarkable artists who reshaped popular music. "The Beatles Forever" is still regarded as one of the definitive books on the Beatles. Today, we'll celebrate the Beatles visit to Milwaukee and explore why this book continues to influence fans, writers, and historians decades later. So, whether you've collected Beatles records for years, or just beginning your journey into the greatest story in rock and roll, you're in for an interesting conversation.

Settle in and turn up the volume, because today we're welcoming one of country music's true originals! A singer with a rich, unmistakable voice. A storyteller who could bring America's truck stops, back roads, and everyday folks to life. And the man who gave us unforgettable hits like "Girl on the Billboard" and "Looking at the World Through a Windshield." From the Grand Ole Opry, where we interviewed him, to the top of the country charts, he entertained audiences with humor, heart, and songs that painted pictures of life on the open road. His music became the soundtrack for truckers, travelers, and country fans across America.

If you pinned me down and asked, "Who were the two most talented men you worked with at WOKY?" I would quickly answer, Bob Collins and Jack Lee. Bob was one of the most beloved radio personalities in American broadcasting. His warm conversational style and humor made him a top-rated personality at WOKY and later at WGN in Chicago. Uncle Bobby was inducted into the Radio Hall of Fame in 2008. Jack lee is remembered as one of the personalities who helped define Milwaukee's Top 40s era. He became successful in radio management and remained active in broadcasting for decades. Jack was inducted into the Wisconsin Broadcasters' Hall of Fame in 1999. In this podcast, you'll hear Bob Collins and I make a bet on the Packer-Bear game while Jack Lee and a character he invented, "Fern Quinby Melrose" added commentary. The photo has WOKY Program Director George Wilson between Bob and myself. The photo with Jack Lee and myself was taken at the WBA Hall of Fame banquet.

Welcome to the podcast. Left-handers Day is Aug. 13. Lefties make up only about ten percent of the world's population, but they've certainly made their mark on history. From artists and inventors to athletes and musicians, left-handers have often been surrounded by myths, misconceptions, and more than a little curiosity. Are they really more creative? Is their brain wired differently? And what challenges do they face in a world designed mostly for right-handed people? Dr. Theodore Blough is an expert who's spent years studying the remarkable world of left-handedness. We'll separate fact from fiction, recognize famous lefties, and maybe even discover why being left-handed can be a real advantage.

Today, we're joined by an actress whose career has captivated audiences around the world for more than five decades. From her unforgettable role as Solitare in the James Bond classic "Live and Let Die" to her Emmy award-winning performance and beloved portrayal in "Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman." Beyond her work on the screen, Jane is an author, artist, entrepreneur, and passionate advocate for health, wellness, and charitable causes. In 1980 Mt. St. Helens erupted, Ronald Reagan was elected U.S. president, John Lennon was shot and killed in New York City and Jane Seymour starred with Christopher Reeve in the film "Somewhere in Time," which can be viewed for free on Tubi. In this very short interview, I asked Jane to give me a synopsis of the movie.

Welcome to this week's "Bob Barry's Unearthed Interviews." Today we're joined by a man whose voice entertained generations of fans. From animation and radio to comedy and character work, which included Muppets and ninja turtles. Greg Berg has built a remarkable career bringing unforgettable personalities to life. Greg has spent his career being several people at once and somehow getting paid for it. Whether you know him from classic cartoons, his work at the microphone, or his unique journey through the entertainment world, you're in for a look behind the scenes of a creative life well lived.

Today's podcast features Helen Gurley Brown, the legendary editor of Cosmopolitan magazine. She convinced women that ambition wasn't a dirty word. She encouraged women to pursue careers, independence, and live on their own terms. She was bold, controversial, witty, and unapologetically herself. Helen dared to tell generations of women that they could have it all, or at least define "all" for themselves. Many of you will remember her controversial Burt Reynolds foldout in Cosmo magazine.

One of the funniest episodes on the "Love Boat" TV sitcom was when the captain's wife had a waterbed brought into their cabin on the ship. If you've been on a cruise, you know how the bed rocks and rolls during a storm at sea. Can you imagine what it would be like in a waterbed? How many of you have owned waterbeds? How many still have a waterbed? Remember when we had the groundwater waterbed commercials on the radio? Today we meet the man who looked at an ordinary mattress and thought, "You know what this needs? A few hundred gallons of water." Before memory foam, and before sleep numbers promised to change your life, there was Charlie Hall, the revolutionary who invented the modern waterbed, one of the wildest consumer crazes ever. The waterbed had become a status symbol, a punchline, a romance prop and occasionally - a homeowner's insurance nightmare. Let's float through the strange history of the bed that sloshed its way into American culture with the inventive mind behind it all.

You need to be a country music fan for this podcast. We're going back to one of country music's most graceful and underrated voices. Helen Cornelius arrived in Nashville with determination, powerhouse vocals, and enough talent to stand toe to toe with the biggest names in country music. Then came the hits, the awards, and the unforgettable duets with Jim Ed Brown that helped define country radio in the late 1970s and early 80's. Together they gave fans classics like "I Don't Want to Have to Marry You," blending humor, chemistry, and pure country charm. Time to turn the dial to classic country for a whole lot of Nashville magic.

From the golden age of truck-stop coffee, CB radios, and jokes your uncle definitely shouldn't have told at church, comes the comedy duo that turned southern storytelling into an American art form – Hudson & Landry. One was smooth, one was loud. Together they sounded like two guys holding court at a roadside diner somewhere between Nashville and trouble. They gave us a collection of timeless routines. Their records spun on jukeboxes and radio stations across the country with punchlines around every corner. Their biggest hit "Ajax Liquor Store," was nominated for a Grammy Award. One morning I called them on the air at WOKY and ended up being on their program in Los Angeles.