Kate Flannery, beloved for her unforgettable portrayal of Meredith Palmer on "The Office," joins the show to discuss her latest role as Principal Saperstein in Hulu's new comedy series "All Night." The unique premise features an entire season taking place during one graduation night at a high school, where students are locked in for their grad night dance without their phones, forced to navigate their final hours together before moving on to the next phase of life. Flannery describes her character as "the human buzzkill," tasked with the impossible job of controlling hormonal teenagers who don't want to listen, while working alongside talented young actors including former Disney Channel stars and Ali Grant from "Suburgatory." She reveals that maintaining continuity throughout the single-night timeline meant the cast couldn't gain an ounce of weight during filming, and fans have already begun binge-watching the series since its recent Hulu release.

Beyond her new series, Flannery answers a fan-submitted question about where Meredith Palmer would be five years after "The Office" documentary, playfully suggesting she'd be "four and a half years sober" before joking that Meredith would likely still be drinking, partying, and working at Dunder Mifflin as long as they'd have her—possibly even in a relationship with the guy she was dancing with at Phyllis and Bob Vance's wedding. She also confirms the behind-the-scenes secret that yes, she really did lick hand sanitizer on the show, though it was specially made with clear gelatin and club soda rather than actual sanitizer. Flannery discusses her other recent roles, including the beloved crossing guard Sandy on "American Housewife" (with hints she may return) and Mean Marge on "Brooklyn Nine-Nine," humorously imagining that if all three characters met, "a fist fight would break out" and "television as we know it would never be the same." She also promotes her ongoing Christmas tour with Jane Lynch and their album "A Swingin' Little Christmas," featuring ten classic carols and five original songs, with upcoming performances at the Carlisle Hotel in New York City and Pittsburgh in early December.

Former NFL first-round draft pick and University of Miami legend Randall Hill joins the show to share his remarkable journey from professional football to a distinguished 20-year career in federal law enforcement. Hill, who played seven seasons in the NFL and won two national championships with the Hurricanes, offers a candid look at how he successfully transitioned from the gridiron to becoming a criminal investigator, proving that life after sports can be just as impactful as playing days.

Hill credits his parents, both educators, and legendary coach Jimmy Johnson for instilling the discipline and focus on education that prepared him for success beyond football. His connection to law enforcement began during his playing days when he spoke at the FBI Miami Field Office in the mid-1990s, leading to a conversation with former FBI Deputy Director Paul Phillip that would chart the course for his second career. After retiring from the NFL, Hill spent just two months away before joining the Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office, then quickly moved to federal service with U.S. Customs in 2003, where he served until his recent retirement in December 2024.

Professional dancer Sharna Burgess joins The Neil Haley Show to discuss her recovery from a serious knee injury sustained during Dancing with the Stars dress rehearsal. In a candid conversation, Burgess explains how a seemingly minor wardrobe malfunction—an overly long skirt—led to a grade two MCL tear when she stepped on the fabric and her knee bent unnaturally. The injury is particularly significant given her medical history: 16 years earlier, she suffered an ACL tear that she danced on too soon, ultimately rupturing it completely. This painful lesson has informed her current decision-making process about when to return to the competition floor. Burgess shares that former dance partner and Pittsburgh Steelers player Antonio Brown reached out with support, physical therapy recommendations, and encouragement to prioritize her health, demonstrating the lasting friendships formed through the show.

Despite being sidelined from performing, Burgess remains deeply involved with her celebrity partner James, serving as his choreographer and teacher while a replacement partner handles the on-floor dancing duties. She expresses complete confidence in James's talent and work ethic, predicting he'll reach the finals and deserves to be there. Burgess emphasizes that her true passion lies in creating choreography and telling stories through dance, making each day at work a pleasure despite the occasional creative blocks. She acknowledges the difficult balance between her desire to return immediately and the necessity of protecting her long-term career—rushing back could sideline her for six months, affecting not only the current season but potentially the next one as well. Looking ahead, Burgess discusses the upcoming Dancing with the Stars Live tour launching immediately after the season concludes, which she describes as refreshing and liberating since it features professional dancers performing without judges, celebrities, or teaching responsibilities. Fans can follow her journey at @SharnaBurgess on social media and visit dwtslive.com for tour information.

In this captivating conversation, host Neil Haley welcomes Tami Stronach, the actress who captured hearts worldwide as the Childlike Empress in the 1984 fantasy classic The NeverEnding Story. Stronach shares the remarkable story of how a chance encounter with a casting agent at her San Francisco acting class led to three auditions across two continents, ultimately landing her the iconic role at just 10 years old. She opens up about the intense filming experience at Bavaria Studios in Germany, working with director Wolfgang Petersen, and how the grueling but magical shoot instilled in her a lifelong love of fantasy storytelling. Despite the film's massive success and her memorable performance, Stronach reveals the thoughtful family decision to walk away from Hollywood as a child, turning down scripts that didn't align with her values, including some that contained violence and nudity inappropriate for an 11-year-old.

Now, decades later, Stronach has come full circle in her creative journey. After dedicating 20 years to professional dance in New York City, performing with various companies, running her own dance troupe, teaching at Marymount Manhattan College, and acting in theater productions, she has launched Paper Canoe Company with her husband. This family entertainment venture creates shows, concerts, and content that echo the whimsical spirit of The NeverEnding Story while involving their daughter Maya in the creative process. Stronach discusses her recent return to the public eye through comic conventions and social media (Twitter: @NeverEndingTammy), expressing genuine surprise and gratitude that fans continue to cherish the film and encourage her to return to screen acting. She reflects on how fantasy stories help us process difficult realities, the formative impact of childhood experiences, and her excitement about potentially exploring film acting again after focusing on live performance for so many years.

Host Neil Haley sits down with Grammy Award-winning country music and southern rock legend Charlie Daniels for an intimate conversation about his iconic career, his surprise mega-hit "The Devil Went Down to Georgia," and what keeps him performing after more than fifty years in the business. Charlie candidly admits he had no idea his 1979 recording would become the phenomenon it did, explaining that you simply can't manufacture or predict that kind of success—you just take your God-given talent and go for it. He shares his amazement that the song still remains the biggest crowd-pleaser at his concerts and continues to receive regular radio airplay decades later, with the fastest chart climb of any record in his career when it was released. What surprises Charlie most is the song's global reach, noting it's become a massive hit even in countries where English isn't the primary language, and that teenagers who have never heard of him instantly recognize "The Devil Went Down to Georgia" when asked about it.

Charlie reveals what truly drives him to continue touring and performing at such a high level: a genuine, deep love for entertaining people and walking on stage. After devoting over fifty years to mastering his craft, he explains that performing is one of the few times in his life when he truly feels like he knows what he's doing. He discusses his recent projects, including "Don't Get No Better Than That," a song written specifically for the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo that captures the excitement of Las Vegas during rodeo season and celebrates cowboys working all year for their shot at the big time. Charlie also shares the story behind his live album recorded at Billy Bob's Texas, part of a series featuring artists like Merle Haggard and Willie Nelson, praising the venue's incredible atmosphere where audiences arrive ready to party. In a humorous moment, he reveals his unconventional relationship with the fiddle, admitting he's entirely self-taught, never had a lesson, can't read music, and does everything technically "wrong"—but it works perfectly for his signature style, warning aspiring players not to copy his technique or they'll drive their violin teachers crazy.

Host Neil Haley welcomes Spanx founder and Shark Tank guest shark Sara Blakely for an inspiring conversation about entrepreneurship, innovation, and staying connected to your purpose. Sara shares her remarkable journey of starting Spanx with just five thousand dollars from her Atlanta apartment without any formal business training, explaining how this experience allows her to deeply relate to the entrepreneurs pitching on Shark Tank who are betting everything on their dreams. She discusses the unique dynamics of sitting between sharks Kevin O'Leary and Mark Cuban, noting how their numbers-driven, deal-focused approach contrasted with her emphasis on understanding each entrepreneur's "why" and purpose behind their venture. Sara reveals that after seventeen years in business, she attributes her sustained success to remaining connected to the purpose behind each product she creates, rather than getting lost in metrics alone.

Sara introduces her philosophy of "finding the white space" in the market and emphasizes the importance of entrepreneurs articulating why they're different from every other option available. She advises aspiring business owners to sell the problem they're solving rather than just the product itself, explaining that if you can clearly define the problem, present your solution, and demonstrate why you're the best option, investors will be all in. Sara also unveils her latest invention, Arm Tights, addressing a gap she noticed in her own closet where sleeveless dresses and tops couldn't be worn during fall and winter months. The innovative crop top made from tights material provides arm coverage while maintaining a sleek silhouette, allowing women to transform sleeveless pieces into long-sleeve looks. As a mother of four children under eight, Sara shares how she balances her roles as an inventor, CEO, and parent, offering authentic glimpses into her struggles, triumphs, and the real challenges of being a working woman through her Instagram presence at Sara Blakely and Spanx.com.

Kerry Frances joins the show to discuss her role in Netflix's latest blockbuster "Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery," revealing an extraordinary career story that most actors only dream about. Both her role as Tammy the morgue girl in this third Knives Out installment and her original role as Sally (Frank Oz's assistant) in the 2019 film were written specifically for her by writer-director Ryan Johnson and offered directly—no auditions required. Kerry shares the surreal experience of her very first movie being a major theatrical release that became a cultural phenomenon, and the hilarious moment when she admitted to Ryan that she didn't know who Frank Oz was, leading to a friendship with the legendary puppeteer and director. She discusses working with an all-star ensemble cast including Glenn Close, Josh Brolin, Kerry Washington, Daniel Craig, and Josh O'Connor (with whom she discovered she shares a birthday), and praises the intelligent writing that refuses to dumb down content for audiences.

Beyond her acting success, Kerry is launching her career as a writer, director, and producer with remarkable momentum. Her first short film recently won her Best Actor at an Oscar-qualifying festival (Holly Shorts), and she's currently in meetings shopping five feature scripts and two pilots to studios and networks. Kerry discusses the current state of television, expressing her belief that we'll see a resurgence of 22-24 episode seasons and sitcoms following economic patterns, and shares her theory that sitcoms typically emerge near the end of recessions. She also reveals her music career, having placed an original song in her recent rom-com "Us and Ourselves" and released a Christmas single, both available on streaming platforms. As a self-described "business-minded opportunist storyteller," Kerry is navigating Hollywood without a traditional talent agent or manager, relying on the relationships she's built and the quality of her work. Her final wisdom: "You've got to be on your own team. You have to be your biggest cheerleader" and do the inner work—therapy, somatic healing, and building a strong foundation—to show up as your best self and make your dreams come true.

Thaao Penghlis, the beloved actor with an incredible 44-year tenure on Days of Our Lives, joins the show to discuss his latest passion project—a three-part podcast series called "The Great Escape" available on Spotify and Amazon. Drawing from his nine journeys to Egypt over the years, Thaao shares the profound spiritual experiences that inspired this immersive audio drama about the Holy Family's escape into Egypt and the journey of the three wise men from Persia. The conversation delves into his transformative climb up Mount Sinai, where a monk living in a small church at the summit told him something that changed his perspective forever: "When you walk the path, you keep it alive." This philosophy has guided Thaao's approach to storytelling and his dedication to bringing historical and spiritual narratives to life through his work.

Thaao reveals the meticulous research behind the podcast, including his two-week journey visiting eight sacred spaces throughout Egypt and staying overnight at each location to truly absorb their significance. He uncovers fascinating historical details that challenge common assumptions about the nativity story—such as why Herod's massacre of the innocents targeted children under two years old (because the wise men didn't arrive until Christ was nearly two). The actor discusses how Christianity came to Egypt through the Coptic religion, his discovery of the Church of the Palm (named for Christ child's handprint, not palm trees), and recently excavated areas of ancient Heliopolis featured in National Geographic. Beyond the podcast, Thaao reflects on his extraordinary longevity in the entertainment industry, the importance of chemistry on set, playing two characters on Days of Our Lives to keep his work multidimensional, and his life philosophy centered on "the gift of giving" rather than hoarding—a mindset that has brought him riches in life experiences and fulfillment.

Bruce Buffer, the iconic voice of the UFC known worldwide for his electrifying "It's Time!" announcement, shares his extraordinary story with host Neil Haley and co-host Caregiver Dave. Buffer reveals how he discovered at age 28 that boxing announcer Michael Buffer—famous for "Let's Get Ready to Rumble"—was his long-lost half-brother, and how four years later he became Michael's manager and business partner, trademarking the phrase and building an empire around it. After running numerous successful companies as "the Wolf of LA" in telemarketing, Buffer found his true calling at age 37 when he became the UFC's announcer, the same age Michael was when he started. He explains his philosophy of BSC (Balls, Skill, and Confidence), emphasizing that entrepreneurs must monetize their passion to live a lifestyle rather than just work a job, and shares how he wakes up every day reminding himself "it's time to have the best day possible."

Buffer discusses his journey from cold-calling the UFC in its early days to becoming an integral part of building the world's fastest-growing sport into a $4.2 billion franchise. He recounts how he convinced Fox to air the first live UFC fight on network television, got fighters on Jay Leno and the Today Show, and created his own distinctive announcing style rather than copying his legendary brother. The conversation takes a touching turn as Buffer shares his caregiving experiences with his 92-year-old mother, whose collapsed lung doctors said would never recover but did thanks to his refusal to give up, and his late father, a Marine veteran who taught him to project his voice and stand tall. Buffer also reveals his latest ventures, including Puncher's Chance bourbon—a premium Kentucky bourbon with a bottle designed in France—and his upcoming cologne and energy product lines, demonstrating that at 63, he remains as entrepreneurial and passionate as ever.

NHL legend Bernie Nicholls takes host Neil Haley on a journey through his remarkable hockey career, from growing up in a tiny Canadian town of 75 people to scoring 70 goals in a single season and playing alongside the greatest hockey player of all time. Nicholls discusses how he broke the LA Kings' goal-scoring record the same year Wayne Gretzky joined the team, and how "The Great One's" arrival transformed not only the Kings franchise but hockey in California, leading to sold-out arenas and the creation of the Anaheim Ducks and San Jose Sharks. He explains the concept of how great players see the ice differently—how the game "slows down" for elite athletes with exceptional vision and hockey sense, a gift that cannot be taught but separates superstars from merely talented players.

Nicholls reflects on his nine years with the Kings, experiencing the dramatic culture shock of moving from rural Canada to Los Angeles with palm trees and 70-degree weather, and later playing for the New York Rangers, Edmonton Oilers, Chicago Blackhawks, and New Jersey Devils. He reached the conference finals four times but never won a Stanley Cup as a player, though he found redemption as a coach with the 2012 champion LA Kings. Throughout the conversation, Nicholls emphasizes hockey as the ultimate team sport where selfishness has no place, and discusses his current work on changing California's constitution to create a new sports economy, his passion for hunting, and his desire to be remembered as someone who competed with passion, worked hard every night, and truly loved the game. This episode offers rare insights into the mind of a hockey great and the golden era when Gretzky brought hockey fever to Southern California.