What a delight going Live with actor, and friend, Michael Gross. A pro, he handled the intro whilst I dealt with FB frustrations. We touched ever so briefly on the pandemic, jumped into Michael’s humble beginnings in Chicago, as a lower middle class, parochial school-going alter boy, raised by a fair-minded before his time, father, and a fearless, creative, impromptu mother who inspired and gave permission to Michael and his younger, one day to be SNL success-story, Mary Gross. With a mid-western work ethic, a chance role in High School as the comic relief in Oklahoma at an all-girls school wetted Michael’s thespian tastes as well as his awareness of where the girls “are.” Pre-med, in a commuter college, he soon found his way to the stage, getting his MFA at Yale School of Drama, which led to three years in Louisville Rep, Regional Repertory, Yale Rep, before finding his way to NY, with dollars saved and the ability to say, “no.” Like to co-starring with Richard Gere in what would be his first Broadway play… or did he? Great story there. Great stories everywhere. Ali McGraw, Sidney Lumet, Cloris Leachman (A Girl Named Sooner), Woody Allen, John Carpenter, Sylvia Sidney, Jason Robards, Bette Davis, Angela Lansbury… how he got to Hollywood, Family Ties, his one day wife, Elza, who negotiated his first contract there for the other side, his next, on his side, and how that success led to his being able to say “no,” in Hollywood. There were loads of “yes’s,” Tremors! All 7 of ‘em, and the TV show, and why that appealed. We touched on Grace and Frankie, The Affair, and left a plethora of other outstanding work for another day.

I cajoled to get Michael, while on vacation with his bride in New Mexico, to agree to this chat. I’ll give him a week and let the Part 2 cajoling, I mean charming, commence.

Easy, humble, yet self-assured, crazy talented, exceedingly smart, forward-thinking, and fair-minded (both of his parents shining through him), it was mostly great entertainment and laugh-out-loud, fun.

I adore this man, and the fine human and artist he is. He brings as much authenticity to the conversation as he does to his work, and that’s saying something.

Michael Gross Live on Game Changers with Vicki Abelson

Wed, 7/21/21, 5 pm PT, 8 pm ET

Streamed Live on my Facebook

Replay here:

https://bit.ly/3iwFa9W

All BROADcasts, as podcasts, also available on

iTunes apple.co/2dj8ld3

Stitcher bit.ly/2h3R1fla

tunein bit.ly/2gGeItj

Also on iHeartRadio, SoundCloud, Voox, OwlTail, Backtracks, PlayerFM, Himalaya, Podchaser, and Listen Notes

Thanks to Rick Smolke of Quik Impressions, the best printers, printing, the best people people-ing. quikimpressions.com

Nicole Venables,of Ruby Begonia Hair Studio Beauty and Products, for tresses like the stars she coifs, and regular people, like me. I love my hair, and I love Nicole. http://www.rubybegoniahairstudio.com/

Blue Microphones and Kevin Walt

Had a great time chatting and getting to know Mr. Squeeze, Phil Parlapiano. From the meaning of his name, and how he got his nickname, what he did over his pandemic staycation, his grandma's guidance, to his first keys, early influences, not The Beatles... at first, pre-teen gigs, touring with Joan Baez, his first big gig at 22, his deal at Geffen, John Prine, 9 years with JOHN PRINE, sigh, Elvis Costello, Jon Bon Jovi, Iron Butterfly, placing music and scoring film, and appearing on it (he's on the shortlist when they want accordionist)... Barry, Shameless, Titanic, sessions, and his ongoing current gig with Kiefer Sutherland, recording, and touring... the man's a multi-instrumentalist on multi-platforms. Talent. Smarts. And, oh so fun.

Phil took us out with his, The Road Is Not My Home. You can find Phil and his music at parlapiano.com and on iTunes and Spotify. He's FAB, on everything.

Phil Parlapiano Live on Game Changers with Vicki Abelson

Wed, 7/14/21, 5 pm PT, 8 pm ET

Streamed Live on my Facebook

Replay here:

https://bit.ly/3wEb2yo

All BROADcasts, as podcasts, also available on

iTunes apple.co/2dj8ld3

Stitcher bit.ly/2h3R1fla

tunein bit.ly/2gGeItj

Also on iHeartRadio, SoundCloud, Voox, OwlTail, Backtracks, PlayerFM, Himalaya, Podchaser, and Listen Notes

Thanks to Rick Smolke of Quik Impressions, the best printers, printing, the best people people-ing. quikimpressions.com

Nicole Venables,of Ruby Begonia Hair Studio Beauty and Products, for tresses like the stars she coifs, and regular people, like me. I love my hair, and I love Nicole. http://www.rubybegoniahairstudio.com/

Blue Microphones and Kevin Walt

Sitting down with 24's Bill Buchanan, AKA, James Morrison, is like wrapping myself up in my softest, warmest, coolest, comfiest, cutest, silkiest pajamas, and settling in for an easy, breezy, fun, loving, memorable night.

I didn't know James when he graced the living room, and Women Who Write, not yet 7 years ago, since then he's become a cherished friend, and my appreciation of his talents and craft keeps growing exponentially.

We talked sobriety, recovery, family, grave illness, losing faith, spirituality, adjusting, life in Alaska, the Beatles, making music, finding theatre, ACT, apprenticing, repertory theatre, day jobs, New York, losing his mother, getting his first film gig, stripping to no music and silent applause, auditioning, the big break that was 24, more auditioning, loads of work, on stage and screen, partnering with his wife, Riad Galayini, co-directing and producing Showing Up, an unprecedented look at the audition, with some of our most accomplished working actors reflecting on the process and how it affects them. Nathan Lane, Sam Rockwell, Eli Wallach. Kristin Chenoweth… (uniquely brilliant, you can find it here http://www.showingupmovie.com).

James played his stupendous and insightful, I'm a Selfish Man, read Robert Burns poem, To A Mouse, in the superb Scottish he's been mastering during the pandemic, showed the piano he took up in recent months, shared how he patiently debates and sometimes alters opinion on The Twitter, and told the tale of his one-man show, Leave Your Fears Here, nudging this slacker to get with it, already and get back to creating.

James is divine inspiration––a multi-talented artist committed activist, adoring and devoted husband and father, and a generous and loving friend. I can't wait to see what he does next... and then sit down and chat about it.

James Morrison Live on Game Changers with Vicki Abelson

Wed, 7/7/21, 5 pm PT, 8 pm ET

Streamed Live on my Facebook

Replay here:

https://bit.ly/3wvllEY

All BROADcasts, as podcasts, also available on

iTunes apple.co/2dj8ld3

Stitcher bit.ly/2h3R1fla

tunein bit.ly/2gGeItj

Also on iHeartRadio, SoundCloud, Voox, OwlTail, Backtracks, PlayerFM, Himalaya, Podchaser, and Listen Notes

Thanks to Rick Smolke of Quik Impressions, the best printers, printing, the best people people-ing. quikimpressions.com

Nicole Venables,of Ruby Begonia Hair Studio Beauty and Products, for tresses like the stars she coifs, and regular people, like me. I love my hair, and I love Nicole. http://www.rubybegoniahairstudio.com/

Blue Microphones and Kevin Walt

Love using my Yeti X!

Chatting Live with long-time friend Eddie Ojeda of Twisted Sister was like going home... and after all these years I just discovered we're both Bronxites.

Loved chatting about the early years, the first guitar, being inspired by the Beatles, he was a Paul, a few years later, a thisclose encounter with John, SPX to Twisted Sister, the successes and the "if only." From clubs to stadiums, to wedding band and back again, ending the touring reign on top, once again headlining stadiums.

We talked Eddie's Twisted Hot Sauce, it's fab, you can get it here:

twistedhotsauce.com, his appearance on Chopped, moving to Nashville to be close to his son and first grandchild, daring a flight west to walk his daughter down the aisle, losing the quarantine 15 (already, damn!) by eating healthy, less and earlier, and leaning into his passion for bike riding (as in bicycle - he once considered going pro), and, what he's binging, a surprising choice.

Looking young, fit, and fab, he's a goddamn inspiration. Forever grateful for his kindness and friendship.

Eddie Ojeda Live on Game Changers with Vicki Abelson

Wed, 6/30/21, 5 pm PT, 8 pm ET

Streamed Live on my Facebook

Replay here:

https://bit.ly/367JqH3

All BROADcasts, as podcasts, also available on

iTunes apple.co/2dj8ld3

Stitcher bit.ly/2h3R1fla

tunein bit.ly/2gGeItj

Also on iHeartRadio, SoundCloud, Voox, OwlTail, Backtracks, PlayerFM, Himalaya, Podchaser, and Listen Notes

Thanks to Rick Smolke of Quik Impressions, the best printers, printing, the best people people-ing. quikimpressions.com

@NIcole,of Ruby Begonia Hair Studio Beauty and Products, for tresses like the stars she coifs, and regular people, like me. I love my hair, and I love Nicole. http://www.rubybegoniahairstudio.com/

Blue Microphones and Kevin Walt

Steve Conte is a jumbo slice of Rock 'n Roll Heaven. We got treated to his latest single, Recovery Doll, a recent Coolest Song in the World on Little Steven's Underground Garage, the B side, Rock And Rye Queen, and, Gimme Rockaway, which was not only another Coolest Song in the World, it also placed in the top 5 for Coolest Song of the Year, on the heels of Ian Hunter, and The Monkees. He's in my top rock voices of all time.

Steve was chicken soup for the crazies soul, one of us, he shared how the Conte's have been faring these past 16 months- with creativity, caution, and grace, it appears.

We heard stories, his classic Chuck Berry, Tiny Tim, thanks, Postell, Paul Simon, Prince, David Clayton Thomas, Michael Monroe, David Johansen... starting out on drums, thanks to Ringo, with his brother John, on guitar, swapping to that, taking front and center, John on bass, backing their jazz singer mother, Rosemary... his first road gig, in Blood, Sweat & Tears, his own, Company of Wolves, Willy DeVille, The New York Dolls, to present tense with his upcoming videos, singles, and album, on Little Steven's Wicked Cool Records.

Always a treat to be in the company of this talented friend with lots of shared history. Such great fun!

Steve's music is available here:

https://steveconte.bandcamp.com/music

And for all things Conte:

http://stevecontenyc.com/site/

Steve Conte Live on Game Changers with Vicki Abelson

Wed, 6/23/21, 5 pm PT, 8 pm ET

Streamed Live on my Facebook

Replay here:

https://bit.ly/3wSt80q

All BROADcasts, as podcasts, also available on

iTunes apple.co/2dj8ld3

Stitcher bit.ly/2h3R1fla

tunein bit.ly/2gGeItj

Also on iHeartRadio, SoundCloud, Voox, OwlTail, Backtracks, PlayerFM, Himalaya, Podchaser, and Listen Notes

Thanks to Rick Smolke of Quik Impressions, the best printers, printing, the best people people-ing. quikimpressions.com

Nicole Venables,of Ruby Begonia Hair Studio Beauty and Products, for tresses like the stars she coifs, and regular people, like me. I love my hair, and I love Nicole. http://www.rubybegoniahairstudio.com/

Blue Microphones and Kevin Walt

It's been a long ride with singer/songwriter/producer, Steve Postell. We go back to Bleecker Street in the heady daze of the New York club scene. I was booking the Rock 'N Roll Café and Steve was fresh outta Pure Prairie League. I was RockStar struck. I booked him that day and have continued to for the past 30 + years wherever I went and whatever I did. When I had my book launch at The Federal it was Steve I went to. He put together the most kick-ass jam band, as he always does. Steve has the distinction of being the one musician who's played every single venue I've booked. How lucky am I?

We talked about Steve's early days as a kid being mesmerized by his mother's record collection and a guitarist in the park, knowing that was what he wanted to do. From lessons with his early mentor, Richard Nieves, who trained him on guitar, reading music, and singing simultaneously, to Mannes School of Music... playing Broadway, sessions, Pure Prairie League, his own record deal, Little Blue, producing with Steve Ferrone, and John Jones, Night Train Music Club, where he assembled the best of the best, to The Immediate Family, the culmination of his life's work, and dream come true.

There are great stories about Dylan, who inspired him, James Taylor, Jackson Browne, David Crosby... meeting Lee Sklar, then Russ Kunkel, Danny Kortchmar, and Waddy Wachtel... and how lightning struck.

This angelic voiced angel sang for us, played for us, including some slide guitar, and took us through the non-stop career of a successful working artist.

Real-time comments from past bandmate, Dan Hickey and current, Leland Sklar, made the whole deal that much more fun.

My heart is full. I loved every minute.

Steve Postell Live On Game Changers with Vicki Abelson

Wed, 6/16/21, 5 pm PT, 8 pm ET

Streamed Live on my Facebook

Replay here:

https://bit.ly/35s7Lqu

(This is Steve smiling)

All BROADcasts, as podcasts, also available on

iTunes apple.co/2dj8ld3

Stitcher bit.ly/2h3R1fla

tunein bit.ly/2gGeItj

Also on iHeartRadio, SoundCloud, Voox, OwlTail, Backtracks, PlayerFM, Himalaya, Podchaser, and Listen Notes

Thanks to Rick Smolke of Quik Impressions, the best printers, printing, the best people people-ing. quikimpressions.com

Nicole Venables of Ruby Begonia Hair Studio Beauty and Products for tresses like the stars she coifs, and regular people, like me. I love my hair, and I love Nicole. http://www.rubybegoniahairstudio.com/

SCORE! Pure joy! #DonnaPescow is, even more of a dream than I'd hoped. The woman is hysterical! #SaturdayNightFever #Angie #EvenStevens #OutOfThisWorld #GreatStories #Travolta #FUN #GameChangersWithVickiAbelson Replay here:

https://bit.ly/3g9e5JH

It's such a joy when those I've adore and admire exceed expectations. Ka-ching! Donna Pescow is, even more, a dream than I'd hoped. The woman is hysterical! I loved the non-stop laughs, coupled with great showbiz stories, and thoughtful reflection of the work, and the people.

From Miss Sing at Sheepshead Bay HS to the American Academy of Dramatic Arts, to a Best Supporting Actress Award by the New York Film Critics Circle, tearing up the dance floor and the silver screen alongside John Travolta in the iconic, Saturday Night Fever, to starring in Angie, garnering a Golden Globe Award nomination for Best Actress and a People's Choice Award nomination; starring in Out of this World, being the first lesbian character portrayed on a soap opera with All My Children’s Dr. Carson in the 80s, to co-starring on Even Stevens, where she earned three Emmy nominations. There were loads of other roles on stage and screen, we talked The Love Boat, and Gavin, Trapper John, and Gregory Harrison, I forgot to ask about The Sopranos, merde! But we did dive deep into Saturday Night Fever, director John Badham, Travolta, acting alongside him, dancing with him, then and now, the car, the bridge, the obsession, the boobs, Karen Lynn Gorney, Joe Cali, Paul Pape, The Bee Gees, Andy Gibb… great stories about Garry Marshall, Robert Hayes, Garry Marshall, Burt Reynolds, Robert Hayes, finally playing Rizzo in Grease with Barry Williams, Belinda Carlisle, and Casey Kasem, her longtime husband, Arnold, dieting, COVID, working again, dining again, and being downright adorable!

Loved every moment, and hope this is the beginning of more, more Donna onscreen, and in life. What a joy! She was worth the years wait, and then some!

Donna Pescow Live On Game Changers with Vicki Abelson

Wed, 6/9/21, 5 pm PT, 8 pm ET

Streamed Live on my Facebook

Replay here:

https://bit.ly/3g9e5JH

All BROADcasts, as podcasts, also available on

iTunes apple.co/2dj8ld3

Stitcher bit.ly/2h3R1fla

tunein bit.ly/2gGeItj

Also on iHeartRadio, SoundCloud, Voox, OwlTail, Backtracks, PlayerFM, Himalaya, Podchaser, and Listen Notes

Thanks to Rick Smolke of Quik Impressions, the best printers, printing, the best people people-ing. quikimpressions.com

Nicole Venables,of Ruby Begonia Hair Studio Beauty and Products, for tresses like the stars she coifs, and regular people, like me. I love my hair, and I love Nicole. http://www.rubybegoniahairstudio.com/

Blue Microphones and Kevin Walt

Fantastically fabulous time with two-time Emmy Award Winner (for those amazing Billy Crystal Academy Award shows which he talks about), Robert Wuhl, actor, writer, producer, director, perhaps best known as the creator and star of HBO's long-running series, Arli$$, talked about the creative freedom the show afforded him to delve into topics which intrigued him, way before their time, why he cast Sandra Oh, how he came to sing Volare as Newbomb Turkin The Hollywood Knights, starting out in stand up, coming up with Seinfeld, Larry David, Paul Reiser, selling jokes to Dangerfield right outta the gate, Madonna, Flashdance, and what a difference one line can make, Good Morning Vietnam, Robin Williams, Bull Durham, Kevin Costner, great stories about how Tim Robbins and Susan Sarandon, not first choices got their parts, how his iconic line at the mound was borne, Tim Burton's Batman, Michael Keaton, Nicholson, more great stories, Paul Newman, Blaze, Paul's favorite joke, working with DeNiro, opening for Estelle Reiner... stories, stories stories, one better than the next. It was an absolute delight, as it always is in Robert's good company. From dogs, Paris, to food in the pandemic... I loved every moment, so enjoyed the laughs. I needed the eggs.

Robert Wuhl Live Game Changers with Vicki Abelson

Wed, 6/1/21, 5 pm PT, 8 pm ET

Streamed Live on my Facebook

Replay here:

https://bit.ly/3fKKC91

All BROADcasts, as podcasts, also available on

iTunes apple.co/2dj8ld3

Stitcher bit.ly/2h3R1fla

tunein bit.ly/2gGeItj

Also on iHeartRadio, SoundCloud, Voox, OwlTail, Backtracks, PlayerFM, Himalaya, Podchaser, and Listen Notes

Thanks to Rick Smolke of Quik Impressions, the best printers, printing, the best people people-ing. quikimpressions.com

Nicole Venables,of Ruby Begonia Hair Studio Beauty and Products, for tresses like the stars she coifs, and regular people, like me. I love my hair, and I love Nicole. http://www.rubybegoniahairstudio.com/

Blue Microphones and Kevin Walt

Unmasked! Post-apocalyptic pandemic blues in Eb may have started and ended the show (with Tristan Cappel), but it was joy, joy, joy, with bass boy, Leland Sklar, my first face-to-face guest since a year ago February. What a great segue back to a semblance of normalcy. It felt so right, so dyn-o-mite. Sorry.

We jumped into the book, Everybody Loves Me, an idea without a plan a mere 15 months ago, now seen pretty much 'round the world, in spite of the shutdowns. My copy now adorns my coffee table, almost in its entirety. It's a massive collection of Lee's signature, people flipping him off––celebrities, musicians, sports heroes, and regular folk like me. Lee showed and told a passel of fab stories surrounding some of the pics, from The Highwaymen (Willie, Merle - another great story on him, and Kris), to Steven Tyler, Sean Penn, Art Garfunkel, Jay Leno, Allee Willis ❤️, his parents, a nun, three winos, Kevin Bacon, on and on, oh yeah, Stephen Bishop... to one pic which didn't make the cut, but there's another great story there.

We talked career... from start to present, from small clubs as a kid to James Taylor, before he was a thing, who coined the name, The Section, of Lee, Kootch, and Kunkel, Carole King, from band keyboardist to superstar, Linda Ronstadt, Phil Collins, Bernie Williams, Lyle Lovette, The Tonight Show more times than he can count, Jim Nabors, Lawrence Welk, Paul Williams, Peter Asher, Leave it to Beaver, The Wrecking Crew, and The immediate Family... how it began, where it is and where it's going. Danny Tenesco's upcoming doc, a new video about to drop, the album in the fall, new music being recorded at Jackson Browne's Studio, tours being planned west and east... and baby steps back to living.

This live in the living room was momentous for many reasons, prime among them, eyeball to eyeball, hugs aplenty, Tristan got to jam with the master, I got a special delivery on my book (you can get yours here: LelandSklarsBeard.com), I got to hear live music being played… Live, and, I got to hang with a beloved friend and share it with Samantha and her beau. Still in the afterglow. And, what a show!

Leland Sklar Live on Game Changers with Vicki Abelson,

Wed, May 12th, 5 pm PT, 8 pm ET

Streamed Live on The Facebook

Replay link:

https://bit.ly/3vX4PNO

All BROADcasts, as podcasts, also available on

iTunes apple.co/2dj8ld3

Stitcher bit.ly/2h3R1fl

tunein bit.ly/2gGeItj

Thanks to Rick Rick Smolke of Quik Impressions, the best printers, printing, the best people people-ing. quikimpressions.com

Nicole Venables of Ruby Begonia Hair Studio Beauty and Products​, for tresses like the stars she coifs, and regular peoples, like me. I love my hair, and I love Nicole. http://www.rubybegoniahairstudio.com/

Blue Microphones and Kevin Walt

I like the comedy with my Rock 'n Roll. Hall of Fame'r Ricky Byrd, delivers brilliantly on both counts. Great stories of his heroes in both worlds. Watching them as a kid on Ed Sullivan, to sharing jokes and cokes at The Pines Hotel coffee shop with Freddie Roman, Dick Capri, and Mal Z Lawrence, to sharing a stage with Stevie Wonder, Joe Walsh, Billie Joe Armstrong, Paul McCartney, and Ringo Starr, all at the same time. Full circle.

I met Ricky Byrd back in the daze… when we were both in a daze… I was booking the Rock’ N Roll Café on Bleecker Street. Ricky was already a rockstar, center stage lead guitarist with Joan Jett and the Blackhearts, playing those iconic riffs in the great MTV Music Video Days. Ricky has recorded, toured, and/or has performed with Roger Daltrey, Ian Hunter, Southside Johnny, Mavis Staples, Brian Wilson, Alice Cooper, Paul Shaffer, Smokey Robinson, and so many others, but we got stories about the above mentioned. As we did about Don Rickles, Frank Gorshen, Ron Wood, Keith Richards, Peter O'Toole, My Favorite Year, Hurricane Sandy, Robert Plant, getting sober, recovery, recovery music groups, recovery coaching, and counseling, creating and making music which supports the cause, and, rocks like hell. Following his solo albums, Lifer and Clean Getaway, his Sobering Times just dropped wide and has already garnered two hits on Little Steven's Underground Garage and one Coolest Song in The World. To get a signed copy of the CD and some Byrd swag and for all things Ricky

https://www.rickybyrd.com/

In 2017, he received the Drug-Free Heroes Award, the Faces, and Voices 2019 Voice of Recovery Award, and the 2019 Italian American of Distinction Award, presented by Governor Cuomo. So very proud of this rockin' pal.

Basically an old Borscht Belt Jew at heart, this RockBoy is all about making music, helping people get sober, reading Dorothy Parker, laughing at Phil Rosenthal, and Entenmann's chocolate anything.

As a sober woman in recovery, Ricky’s plight, his passion, his stories, and his hair, are close to my heart. We now party like it’s 1869. My kinda fun.

Ricky Byrd on Game Changers with Vicki Abelson

Wed, 5/5/21, 5 pm PT, 8 pm ET

Streamed Live on my Facebook

Replay here:

https://bit.ly/3tp6PwT

All BROADcasts, as podcasts, also available on

iTunes apple.co/2dj8ld3

Stitcher bit.ly/2h3R1fla

tunein bit.ly/2gGeItj

Also on iHeartRadio, SoundCloud, Voox, OwlTail, Backtracks, PlayerFM, Himalaya, Podchaser, and Listen Notes

Thanks to Rick Smolke of Quik Impressions, the best printers, printing, the best people people-ing. quikimpressions.com

Nicole Venables,of Ruby Begonia Hair Studio Beauty and Products, for tresses like the stars she coifs, and regular people, like me. I love my hair, and I love Nicole. http://www.rubybegoniahairstudio.com/

Blue Microphones and Kevin Walt