Follow Your Dream - Music And Much More!

In the Golden Age of television, it seemed as though every hit show had a memorable theme song.

The music introduced the show, told us something about the characters, and immediately established the tone. Many of those songs became so deeply embedded in popular culture that decades later we can still sing them from memory.

Think about The Beverly Hillbillies song. There was also Car 54, Where Are You?, The Flintstones, Gilligan’s Island, The Jetsons and The Mary Tyler Moore Show.

Even shows whose themes had no lyrics gave us melodies that were instantly recognizable, like The Honeymooners and The Dick Van Dyke Show.

This Special Collection discusses the rise and fall of TV theme songs, and also spotlights 2 podcast guests who were intimately involved in this era: Ann Hampton Callaway and Bruce Miller.

Juana Luna is an Argentine singer, songwriter, and community artist. Her work weaves together South American folklore, boleros, tango, and other global influences. She’s performed at major venues including Lincoln Center and The Kennedy Center. She has a particular interest in early childhood music where she creates immersive, music-driven experiences for young audiences. She integrates live performance, improvisation, and storytelling. She is also an active collaborator in Carnegie Hall’s Big Note Little Note and The Lullaby Project, working with families and other artists.

My featured song is "Cousins”, from the album Trippin by my band Project Grand Slam. Spotify link.

CONNECT WITH JUANA:
www.juanaluna.com

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SONGFEST TRACKS

1. Serenata del 900 (20:14) — from her album Canciones en Blanco y Negro (Songs in Black and White). An old anonymous Argentine folk love song, long thought to be by a folklorist from her grandparents' time, who actually collected it. The album's title comes from old black-and-white photos — these songs sound like black-and-white photos to her.

2. Flor de la Noche (22:10) — an original song she wrote, about a voice shaking yet still telling the truth; encouragement for herself and anyone else, as a woman and an immigrant finding words in English.

3. Merceditas (24:51) — a very famous old Argentine folk song: a travelling musician falls in love with Merceditas, who does not return his love; 50 years later he gifted her the rights to the song so she would be comfortable.

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DISCUSSION SEGMENTS

- 3:21 — Interview begins: growing up in Buenos Aires, family folk music, everybody playing guitar, an uncle on Paraguayan harp

- 9:33 — Folk roots and returning to simplicity

- 10:52 — Children's music interest begins: leaving Boston for New York, needing work, and a puppetry job

- 13:04 — Singing and doing puppets in English, improvising stories

- 18:52 — Carnegie Hall baby operas for ages 0-3, and October shows free through Carnegie

- 26:42 — Wrap-up and thanks

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FOLLOW YOUR DREAM PODCAST:

Click here for Start Here
Click here for All Episodes 
Click here for Guest List 
Click here for Guest Testimonials
Click here for Pillars
Click here for Robert’s Project Grand Slam
Click here to Subscribe 
Click here to receive our Email Updates
Click here to Rate and Review the podcast

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ROBERT'S LATEST RELEASE:

“THE BUZZ” - Ft. Darius de Haas (vocals) and Dave Eggar (Cello). 
"Short, Sweet and Totally Different"

CLICK HERE FOR OFFICIAL VIDEO
CLICK HERE FOR ALL LINKS

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Audio production:

Jimmy Ravenscroft
Kymera Films

Connect with the Follow Your Dream Podcast:
Website - www.followyourdreampodcast.com

Follow Robert’s band, Project Grand Slam, and his music:
Website - www.projectgrandslam.com

Mike Jones aka Jonesy is a jazz pianist and the music director and opening act for Penn & Teller, the iconic comedy and magic duo. He says he’s played the Great American Songbook for more people each year than any jazz pianist in the world. This is because, as music director for Penn & Teller all around the country he plays standards in the “warm-up” hour – and during and between the onstage magic – for the millions of visitors who attend the show.

My featured song is my reimagined version of Miles Davis's "All Blues”, from my debut album. Spotify link.

CONNECT WITH MIKE:
www.jonesjazz.com

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SONGFEST TRACKS

1. I'm Walking (24:13) — from the Penn & Teller pre-show, live this past March. Fats Domino / Monty Alexander lineage; a song that brings the magic-show audience in.

2. Gone with the Wind (26:35) — drummer-less trio, 2022, with Graham Dechter (guitar) and Alex Frank (bass), from the living-room sessions that became Mike Jones with Strings (Capri Records).

3. Exactly Like You (29:01) — solo piano, 2018, a tribute to Dave McKenna, heard at the Copley Plaza in Boston while Jonesy was at Berklee.

4. September Song (31:43) — trio, his first record for Capri Records, with Jeff Hamilton and a bassist standing in for John Clayton, in a Gene Ammons-style two-beat shuffle.

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DISCUSSION SEGMENTS

- 3:20 — Interview begins: growing up in Buffalo, Western New York, two player pianos in the house, lessons from age five, Fats Waller, Teddy Wilson and Art Tatum

- 6:00 — The Beatles moment: jazz and rock need not be one or the other

- 9:37 — Berklee years in Boston and the gigs that shaped his playing

- 18:08 — Joining Penn & Teller, 25 years into their act, and Penn learning upright bass for the pre-show hour

- 21:04 — Broadway in 2015, playing the entire show alone, and the Rio run, now four nights a week

- 33:44 — Wrap-up and thanks

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FOLLOW YOUR DREAM PODCAST:
Click here for Start Here
Click here for All Episodes 
Click here for Guest List 
Click here for Guest Testimonials
Click here for Pillars
Click here for Robert’s Project Grand Slam
Click here to Subscribe 
Click here to receive our Email Updates
Click here to Rate and Review the podcast

—----------------------------------------

ROBERT'S MOST RECENT SINGLE:

“THE BUZZ” - Ft. Darius de Haas (vocals) and Dave Eggar (Cello). 
"Short, Sweet and Totally Different"

CLICK HERE FOR OFFICIAL VIDEO
CLICK HERE FOR ALL LINKS

---------------------

Audio production:

Jimmy Ravenscroft
Kymera Films

Connect with the Follow Your Dream Podcast:
Website - www.followyourdreampodcast.com

Follow Robert’s band, Project Grand Slam, and his music:
Website - www.projectgrandslam.com

David Daniel is an award winning poet. His book, Seven-Star Bird, won a prize for the best first or second poetry book of the year. He directs the undergraduate creative writing program at Fairleigh Dickinson University, where he created Wamfest: The Words, Art, and Music Festival, which has featured collaborative performances by Bruce Springsteen and Robert Pinsky and others. His essays and reviews have been published in various venues, including The Harvard Review, Ploughshares, Boston Review, The Writer’s Chronicle, and The Journal of Country Music.

My featured song is "Like Never Before”, my recent single. Spotify link.

CONNECT WITH DAVID:
www.daviddanielpoetry.com

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POETRYFEST READING

1. My Tumbleweed (22:59) — written in April, read at the end of the episode. Based on a true story: driving through Washington State with his wife and father-in-law, pulling over to touch a tumbleweed, which ripped his hands to shreds. The poem contrasts the Hollywood Wild West myth with the real one: cowboys wore bowler hats, about a quarter were Black, many were Mexican and Native, towns had strict gun laws — and tumbleweeds themselves came from Russia.

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DISCUSSION SEGMENTS

- 3:17 — Interview begins: message songs, 1960s protest songs, and the artist's responsibility to comment on the social issues of the day

- 6:05 — How he got into poetry: his older brother's Beatles records, and performing "Eleanor Rigby" in second/third grade to classroom laughter — a moment that shaped his festival's mission

- 13:18 — WOMFEST's origin: hearing Hank Williams and realising his fancy poetry book was less profound, and promising Fairleigh Dickinson he would bridge academy art and the art of the people

- 15:47 — Getting Robert Pinsky and Bruce Springsteen together: a two-year effort, Dave Marsh, Barbara Carr, and the 10 p.m. email with Bruce's dates

- 18:37 — The night itself: the hour before the show, Bruce having set Pinsky's poems to music, and the two falling in love on stage in a 250-seat theatre

- 25:40 — Wrap-up and thanks

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FOLLOW YOUR DREAM PODCAST:

Follow Your Dream Podcast:
Click here for Start Here
Click here for All Episodes 
Click here for Guest List 
Click here for Guest Testimonials
Click here for Pillars
Click here for Robert’s Project Grand Slam
Click here to Subscribe 
Click here to receive our Email Updates
Click here to Rate and Review the podcast

—----------------------------------------

ROBERT'S LATEST RELEASE:

“THE BUZZ” - Ft. Darius de Haas (vocals) and Dave Eggar (Cello). 
"Short, Sweet and Totally Different"

CLICK HERE FOR OFFICIAL VIDEO
CLICK HERE FOR ALL LINKS

---------------------

Audio production:

Jimmy Ravenscroft
Kymera Films

Connect with the Follow Your Dream Podcast:
Website - www.followyourdreampodcast.com

Follow Robert’s band, Project Grand Slam, and his music:
Website - www.projectgrandslam.com

Lucie Arnaz is a renowned actress, singer, and producer. For nearly three decades, she has performed her acclaimed nightclub act throughout the United States and Europe, in Las Vegas, Atlantic City, at Feinstein’s, 54 Below, Birdland and the Café Carlyle. She has performed at The Academy Awards show and at the White House. And she’s released several acclaimed CDs. She's known also for her roles in the film “The Jazz Singer” alongside Neil Diamond and the TV series “Sons And Daughters”. And she also starred together with her parents in “Here’s Lucy”. For anyone living in a cave since the 1950s, or who just isn’t old enough, Lucie’s parents were the iconic superstars Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz, who were the stars of the show “I Love Lucy”, one of the most famous and most important shows in the history of television.

My featured song is “Juliet Dances” from the album East Side Sessions by my band Project Grand Slam. Spotify link.

CONNECT WITH LUCIE:
www.luciearnaz.com

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SONGFEST TRACKS

1. Waiting for the Robert E. Lee (17:59) — with Wayne Newton and her mother, from her early years on her mother's show.

2. Fever (22:13) — from 1972, with Jim Bailey.

3. They're Playing Our Song (24:33) — 1979 Tony Awards performance with Robert Klein, from her first Broadway show (Marvin Hamlisch music, Carole Bayer Sager lyrics, Neil Simon book; she played Sonya).

4. Hey, Look Me Over (28:42) — live at Birdland, 2010, in a Cy Coleman tribute, with Ron Abel's arrangement.

5. There's No Business Like Show Business (31:26) — at the Purple Room, Palm Springs, 2022, in ballad form, bookending her show "I Got the Job: Songs from My Musical Past".

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DISCUSSION SEGMENTS

- 3:26 — Interview begins: I Love Lucy, no single favorite episode — the conveyor-belt chocolate and grape-stomping episodes everyone talks about

- 4:58 — Growing up in show business: backyard skits at age 7-9, a little stage in the garage, picking her high school for its theatre department

- 8:54 — Theatre first: musicals, Cabaret in 1971 as Sally Bowles, then Broadway plays

- 10:31 — Her club act: American Songbook songs, Ron Abel's fresh arrangements, no greatest-hits set — and being "forced" to sing They're Playing Our Song every show

- 13:44 — Scripting the patter: writing intros to keep the show to length, while making it sound spontaneous

- 34:27 — Wrap-up and thanks

-----------------------------

FOLLOW YOUR DREAM PODCAST:
Click here for Start Here
Click here for All Episodes 
Click here for Guest List 
Click here for Guest Testimonials
Click here for Pillars
Click here for Robert’s Project Grand Slam
Click here to Subscribe 
Click here to receive our Email Updates
Click here to Rate and Review the podcast

—----------------------------------------

ROBERT'S LATEST RELEASE:

“THE BUZZ” - Ft. Darius de Haas (vocals) and Dave Eggar (Cello). "Short, Sweet and Totally Different"

CLICK HERE FOR OFFICIAL VIDEO

CLICK HERE FOR ALL LINKS

---------------------

Audio production:

Jimmy Ravenscroft
Kymera Films

Connect with the Follow Your Dream Podcast:
Website - www.followyourdreampodcast.com

Follow Robert’s band, Project Grand Slam, and his music:
Website - www.projectgrandslam.com

Douglas Knehans is a multiple award winning American-Australian composer, best known for his orchestral compositions. He’s written eight large works for orchestra. His music has been performed by orchestras, opera companies, chamber ensembles, and soloists including flutist Gareth Davies and cellist Zuill Bailey. He is the founder of the Australian International Summer Orchestra Institute where he brings together young musicians with principal players from Australia's leading orchestras. His recordings have received more than two dozen international awards. He is also co-founder and co-director of the Thessaloniki Art and Music Summit.

My featured song is "Ma Petite Fleur String Quartet”, my recent release. Spotify link.

CONNECT WITH DOUGLAS:
www.douglasknehans.com

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SONGFEST TRACKS

1. The Cloud Ossuary (13:34) — Symphony No. 4. The excerpt discussed is the final movement, "Bones and All", for orchestra and soprano, setting a poem by his daughter Katarina Knehans. An ossuary is an above-ground burial place for bones.

2. Storm Drift (15:57) — piano and strings. Adapted from his earlier Drift for strings and oboe, with a stormy middle section added.

3. Unfinished Earth (17:36) — Symphony No. 3, in three movements: Tempering (earth forming, volcanic), Eternal Ocean, and Tearing Drift (continental drift).

4. Purple Heart (19:56) — commemorative piece about his father, who volunteered in World War II, fought at Okinawa, saved a fellow soldier, was shot in the leg, and received the Bronze Star and the Purple Heart.

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DISCUSSION SEGMENTS

 - 3:23 — Interview begins: Tasmania, director of the Tasmanian Conservatory, now teaching at the University of Cincinnati

- 6:51 — Background: late starter on flute in his last year of high school, Australian National University, flute and composition, freelancing as a flutist

- 8:12 — Before music: graphic art, rejection from art schools, and the pivot to music

- 9:53 — Australian International Summer Orchestra Institute in Tasmania

- 11:07 — Thessaloniki Art and Music Summit, with the Thessaloniki State Symphony Orchestra

-------------------------

FOLLOW YOUR DREAM PODCAST:
Click here for Start Here
Click here for All Episodes 
Click here for Guest List 
Click here for Guest Testimonials
Click here for Pillars
Click here for Robert’s Project Grand Slam
Click here to Subscribe 
Click here to receive our Email Updates
Click here to Rate and Review the podcast

—----------------------------------------

ROBERT'S LATEST RELEASE:

“THE BUZZ” - Ft. Darius de Haas (vocals) and Dave Eggar (Cello).
 "Short, Sweet and Totally Different"

CLICK HERE FOR OFFICIAL VIDEO
CLICK HERE FOR ALL LINKS

---------------------

Audio production:

Jimmy Ravenscroft
Kymera Films

Connect with the Follow Your Dream Podcast:
Website - www.followyourdreampodcast.com

Follow Robert’s band, Project Grand Slam, and his music:
Website - www.projectgrandslam.com

Before beginning each podcast interview, I tell my guest that I have three goals for their episode. First, to have fun. Second, to entertain the audience — because after all, we’re in show business. And third, I want my guest to feel comfortable and respected.

Those three goals are really at the heart of Follow Your Dream.

Each interview is a meaningful conversation about my guest’s life, their career, and their art. But it’s important to me that these conversations take place in a relaxed, enjoyable, and supportive atmosphere, with mutual kindness and respect.

In many ways, that’s the secret sauce of the podcast.

When a guest appears on Follow Your Dream, they receive worldwide exposure for their work and their story. Listeners from around the globe hear their music or experience their art, their ideas, and their creative journey.

So I tell them that appearing on the podcast is like going on a world tour — but from the comfort of their own home or studio, and with no travel required.

Of course, putting each episode together takes quite a bit of work. Arranging the logistics for the interview, gathering and reviewing the materials for the “fest” portion of the show, recording the conversation, having it edited and sequenced, publishing it, promoting it, and sharing it with listeners around the world.

But it’s work that I truly enjoy, because every conversation brings something new and introduces me to another extraordinary artist.

And what I’ve found is that most artists are deeply appreciative of the experience. They love their interview, they share it with their fans, they stay in touch, they introduce me to other remarkable artists who might be great guests as well, and in some cases we even collaborate musically on new projects.

It becomes a kind of creative community built on mutual respect — extending the podcast beyond conversation and into creative production. I like to call it a virtuous creative loop.

Which reminds me of something simple but important. When someone treats you well, expressing appreciation matters. It’s a small gesture, but it helps maintain and strengthen the connections between people.

And in the creative world — as in life — those connections are important and often lead to wonderful things.

Just an observation from my many conversations.

This is Robert Miller with Follow Your Dream.

Chris Prather is a composer, orchestrator, and producer whose work spans concerts, operas, and recordings. His original works have received world premieres by major ensembles, including The Ringing of the Bell by cellist Tess Remy-Schumacher. As an orchestrator and arranger he’s worked on three Grammy-nominated projects including ALIKE - My Mother’s Dream by Allison Charney. And his latest album is Through Falling Rain, a genre-crossing work that blends classical, rock, and Latin.

My featured song is "It Is A Miracle To Me”, from the album East Side Sessions. Spotify link.

CONNECT WITH CHRIS:
www.chrisprathermusic.com

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SONGFEST TRACKS

1. No Justice, No Peace (12:12) — from his one-act opera of the same name (2022), librettists Megan Prather (his twin sister) and Kenneth R. Woods; excerpt is the mother-son moment sung by Lorenzo Butler and Kayla Marshall.

2. The Ringing of the Bell (15:52) — cello work for Tess Remy-Schumacher, commissioned by her and Brian Lamb; UCO programme lists it as a 2025 work, movements Weight of the World / True Love / Joyful Declaration.

3. Symphonina No. 1 (Tales from Spooky Town) (18:22) — from Symphonina Stories: New Horizons, International Symphonina Orchestra, David Fogel remote conductor.

4. Through Falling Rain (21:12) — title track of his latest album (2026), blending classical, rock, and Latin; album framed as a journey through grief, closure from within.

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DISCUSSION SEGMENTS

- 3:34 — Interview begins: first instrument, parents' classic rock and metal, rock-star dream

- 5:54 — Sixth-grade band, percussion and piano, learning every instrument

- 6:19 — Turn to composition in college; David Maslanka and wind band explained

- 7:55 — Master's study with Dr. Edward Knight; finding his own voice; why opera

- 9:23 — Writing an opera with his twin sister and Kenneth R. Woods, during COVID, built around empathy for a family

- 23:24 — Wrap-up and thanks

-----------------------------

Follow Your Dream Podcast:
Click here for Start Here
Click here for All Episodes 
Click here for Guest List 
Click here for Guest Testimonials
Click here for Pillars
Click here for Robert’s Project Grand Slam
Click here to Subscribe 
Click here to receive our Email Updates
Click here to Rate and Review the podcast

—----------------------------------------

ROBERT'S LATEST RELEASE:

“THE BUZZ” - Ft. Darius de Haas (vocals) and Dave Eggar (Cello). 
"Short, Sweet and Totally Different"

CLICK HERE FOR OFFICIAL VIDEO
CLICK HERE FOR ALL LINKS

---------------------

Audio production:

Jimmy Ravenscroft
Kymera Films

Connect with the Follow Your Dream Podcast:
Website - www.followyourdreampodcast.com

Follow Robert’s band, Project Grand Slam, and his music:
Website - www.projectgrandslam.com

Kebra-Seyoun Charles is an American double bassist, composer and multiple award winner who goes by the pronouns they/them. Kebra has been lauded as a virtuoso and composer of concerti, ballets, and pop ballads. Kebra has soloed with numerous orchestras including the New World Symphony, Indianapolis Symphony, and Wilmington Symphony, and was the featured soloist on a national tour with the Sphinx Virtuosi. Other notable performances include Jazz at Lincoln Center, the Kagoshima Jazz Festival, the Aspen Music Festival, and the Library of Congress. And Kebra was part of the Emmy Award-winning Broadway production of “Hadestown” and has collaborated with Jon Batiste at Carnegie Hall.

My featured song is "Ma Petite Fleur String Quartet”, my recent release. Spotify link.

CONNECT WITH KEBRA:
www.kscharles.com

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Follow Your Dream Podcast:

Click here for Start Here
Click here for All Episodes 
Click here for Guest List 
Click here for Guest Testimonials
Click here for Pillars
Click here for Robert’s Project Grand Slam
Click here to Subscribe 
Click here to receive our Email Updates
Click here to Rate and Review the podcast

—----------------------------------------

ROBERT'S MOST RECENT RELEASE:

“THE BUZZ” - Ft. Darius de Haas (vocals) and Dave Eggar (Cello). 
"Short, Sweet and Totally Different"

CLICK HERE FOR OFFICIAL VIDEO
CLICK HERE FOR ALL LINKS

—--------------------------------------

Audio production:

Jimmy Ravenscroft
Kymera Films

Connect with the Follow Your Dream Podcast:
Website - www.followyourdreampodcast.com

Follow Robert’s band, Project Grand Slam, and his music:
Website - www.projectgrandslam.com

Kurt Nikkanen is an acclaimed violinist. At twelve he made his Carnegie Hall debut; two years later he was invited by Zubin Mehta to perform with the New York Philharmonic. He’s worked with many of the world’s most renowned conductors, including Andrew Litton. He’s performed with US symphonies in Dallas, St Louis, Detroit, San Francisco, Los Angeles and Cleveland, and in Europe with the BBC Symphony, Royal Philharmonic, and the BBC Philharmonic among others. And he’s a professor at Kutztown University.

My featured song is "Ma Petite Fleur String Quartet”, my recent release. Spotify link.

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Top 1% of all podcasts with Listeners in 200 countries!

Click here for Start Here

Click here for All Episodes 

Click here for Guest List 

Click here for Guest Testimonials

Click here for Pillars

Click here for Robert’s Project Grand Slam

Click here to Subscribe 

Click here to receive our Email Updates

Click here to Rate and Review the podcast

—----------------------------------------

SUBMITTED FOR GRAMMY CONSIDERATION:

“THE BUZZ” - Ft. Darius de Haas (vocals) and Dave Eggar (Cello). "Short, Sweet and Totally Different"

CLICK HERE FOR OFFICIAL VIDEO

CLICK HERE FOR ALL LINKS

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ROBERT''S LATEST RELEASE:

"MA PETITE FLEUR STRING QUARTET"

“Nine minutes of genuinely enjoyable chamber music-making: thoughtful, expressive, beautifully played and full of personality!” (Broadway World)

"Robert Miller's "Ma Petite Fleur String Quartet” is a true musical treasure in the string quartet repertoire. Beautifully performed!”. (GRAMMY® nominee cellist Tess Remy-Schumacher)

“I love it! Such an amazing work!” (Award Winning Pianist, GRAMMY® U Mentor, Vivian Fang Liu)

CLICK HERE FOR ALL LINKS

—--------------------------------------

Audio production:

Jimmy Ravenscroft
Kymera Films

Connect with the Follow Your Dream Podcast:
Website - www.followyourdreampodcast.com

Follow Robert’s band, Project Grand Slam, and his music:
Website - www.projectgrandslam.com