I don't even know where to begin. Zane Carney is a brilliant guitarist, singer/songwriter, actor, tech wiz, gamer... and his mind! Dare I say, genius? I do. A seeker, he's always asking questions, and he actually listens to the answers. Zane puts the knowledge into action, sans ego, bettering himself, and all in his wake, at every turn. I'm blown away. Literally, mind, heart, and spirit, blown! I knew his music, and I've had enough dealings with him to know how personable, enthusiastic, demonstrative, kind, thoughtful, and lovely he is. Put all that together and the time spent in his good company was like a warm, sweet, cleansing bath, which for two hours washed away and healed six months of pandemic virus.

We talked Zane's tenure as a seven-year-old to start, co-star on Dave's World with Harry Anderson, his crazy talented family, picking up a guitar at ten to catch his quickly rising, two years older brother, Reeve, getting good enough, fast enough, to be out touring with major artists while still a teen.

The GRAMMY® nominated guitarist, co-founded CARNEY, who slew LA with sold-out residencies, was chosen to play Bono and The Edge's music in Broadway's Spider-Man: Turn Off The Dark, was hand-picked by John Mayer to join his band, which was a game-changer moving forward, giving him the cred and visibility which he continues to parlay in his solo career which soars, in spite of having had a vocal chord defect, and a years-long debilitating fatigue disorder. The youngin is indefatigable, unstoppable, forever learning, growing, and reinventing. Just days before the world as we knew it shut down, Zane reconnected to acting and was scheduled to star in an LA production of Hair.

Corona don't scare and won't stop him. Zane's created a thriving and ever-growing pandemic proof platform for his passions: music, gaming... connecting, another of his magnificent gifts. Zane makes whomever he's addressing the most important person in the world at that moment. Having been on the receiving end of that for these two hours, it's pretty heady stuff.

And, he played. His ass off! Originals, I Want to Have Faith Again, and I Love You, at my request, had virtual lighters igniting all over the interweb... as did a cover, requested by our friend, Snuffy Walden. I'll leave that as a closing surprise.

Zane Carney is in heavy rotation in my kitchen, and now in my head and heart. I'll be keeping him close... you can too. He streams Live, nightly. Lucky us. For all things Zane https://www.zanecarney.com

Apologies for my tech woes... working on it. My queendom for a crew, and a blue president.

Zane Carney​ Live on Game Changers with Vicki Abelson
Wed, 9/23/20, 5 pm PT, 8 pm ET

Live on The Facebook

Replay here:

https://bit.ly/30484Wo

All BROADcasts, as podcasts, also available on

iTunes apple.co/2dj8ld3

Stitcher bit.ly/2h3R1fla

tunein bit.ly/2gGeItj

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

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

Maggie Baird Live On Game Changers With Vicki Abelson by Vicki Abelson

So great to be Live with keyboardist/vocalist for The Who, and now, treasured friend, Loren Gold. Loren's played the living room multiple times, backing up both Anson Williams and Donny Most, for two - Happy Days! Not sure I know anyone who appreciates 70s and 80s TV more than Loren. We’ve sat down, and run around, it's always fun. Quintessential Loren… seeing him man the keyboards and backup vocals for The Who at the Hollywood Bowl last October, arguably the greatest concert I’ve yet to see… and that’s saying something. Loren’s been with The Who since 2012 and has played with Roger Daltrey since 2009. Ridiculously accomplished, talented, humble, Loren grew up in Palo Alto with older siblings and music-loving dad who turned him on to The Beatles, The Stones, and The Who, foreshadowing his inevitable future. From a High School band to LA clubs, working as a messenger by day, Loren paid his dues with diligence and focus. Once the great gigs started, he parlayed one into the next… from Hilary Duff to Taylor Hicks to Roger Daltrey to The Who. That’s just crazy right there. So many sweet stories. And, he played. Some Beatles, Queen, originals, and, sigh, The Who. He currently splits his time with The Who and playing with Rita Wilson. An easy-going sweetheart with crazy talent, he's modeling safe entry back to living for this COVID crazy. Always love every moment in his good company.

Loren Gold Live on Game Changers with Vicki Abelson
Wed, 9/9/20, 5 pm PT, 8 pm ET
Live on The Facebook

Replay here:

https://bit.ly/3k3Hxjo

All BROADcasts, as podcasts, also available on

iTunes apple.co/2dj8ld3

Stitcher bit.ly/2h3R1fl

tunein bit.ly/2gGeItj

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 peoples, like me. I love my hair, and I love Nicole. http://www.rubybegoniahairstudio.com/

Blue Microphones​ and Kevin Walt​

Peter And Paul Cartoons.

How do I love Lee, let me count the ways… Leland Sklar, one of the most storied and successful musicians to ever grace a stage or session, was back in the virtual living room and kicked COVID ass. Passionate, intelligent conversation on the travesty that is the idiot in the chief, censorship, getting creative, his soon to drop coffee table book, named here publicly for the first time, playing alone in the pandemic, daily commitment to his YouTube channel to provide meaningful content and music, currently, socially distancing and masking to record with The Immediate Family: Russ Kunkel, Danny Kortchmar, Waddy Wachtel, and Steve Postel; as well as with Judith Owen with Pedro Segundo.

We went back to his early days, an award-winning child protege on piano, who became a bassist when his school orchestra needed one. Some things are just meant to be... James Taylor changed his life, The Section a huge part of his life, Carole King, Billy Cobham, Phil Collins, Jackson Browne, The Wrecking Crew, the upcoming Denny Tedesco doc, an upcoming album and EP, merching, his fine art, we were all over his highly productive, successful, life.

What fun, even if it t'weren't the time of corona. I adore this brilliant, fine human. Grateful as hell he graced our interweb.

Leland Sklar Live on Game Changers with Vicki Abelson,

Wed, 9/2/20, 5 pm PT, 8 pm ET

Live on The Facebook

Replay here:

https://bit.ly/31Y4sXv

Screenshot by Gigi Shapiro Kulick

All BROADcasts, as podcasts, also available on

iTunes apple.co/2dj8ld3

Soundcloud http://bit.ly/2hktWoS

Stitcher bit.ly/2h3R1fl

tunein bit.ly/2gGeItj

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 peoples, like me. I love my hair, and I love Nicole. http://www.rubybegoniahairstudio.com/

Blue Microphones and Kevin Walt

And, Peter And Paul Cartoons.

It's only taken us 35 years to sit down and have a conversation, but it was worth the wait. Bette Sussman and I yakked for two hours and the time flew with nary a moment of dead air.

Bette's served as Musical Director/Pianist for Cissy Houston, Bette Midler, Whitney Houston, Carly Simon, Darlene Love, Patti LuPone, Rev. Al Green, Martin Short, and so much and many more. We talked about all of them. I forgot to ask about Carly, but she did come up. Bette's worked with pretty much everyone and had great stories about all of the above, plus Aretha, Stevie Wonder, Keb' Mo', Cyndi Lauper, Paul Schaffer, Cher, and unbeknownst till tonight shared experience with then-President Bill Clinton, running for senate Hillary (we both have the pics to prove it), Nathan Lane, the beforementioned Cher, DeNiro, Cruise, Affleck, Paltrow, the list goes on... so fun to reminisce it. We talked Allee and The Color Purple, Waitress, playing the Garden to the World Cup. Gold Records, I forgot the Emmys! Bette's Diner... surviving COVID in NY when it was rampant, to the shows we're binging now. Loved every second. Can't wait till we're on the same coast and pick it up in person.

Bette Sussman​ on Game Changers With Vicki Abelson

Wed, 8/26/20, Live @5pm PT

Live on The Facebook

Replay link here:

https://bit.ly/31ya3Ds

All BROADcasts, as podcasts, also available on

iTunes apple.co/2dj8ld3

Soundcloud http://bit.ly/2hktWoS

Stitcher bit.ly/2h3R1fl

tunein bit.ly/2gGeItj

YouTube https://bit.ly/31aIvny

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 peoples, like me. I love my hair, and I loves Nicole. http://www.rubybegoniahairstudio.com/

Blue Microphones and Kevin Walt

Toni Vincent and, Peter And Paul Cartoons.

Pedro Segundo, just what the corona doctor ordered. Killer percussionist, drummer, beautiful soul, Pedro treated us to magnificent sounds, gentle humility, and a heartfelt message about human connection through music. From classical to jazz, Pedro studied, honoring his gifted craft with the passion and unique vision he presents through it.

Ever since seeing Pedro at NAMM, I’ve been obsessed. I couldn’t take my eyes or ears off him. Pedro is the embodiment of dynamism. Equally, at home behind 18th-century-style kettle drums and a five-piece drum kit, Pedro makes every object he touches a channel for his incredible musical energy.

Pedro’s been the house drummer for Ronnie Scott’s Jazz Club for the past 10 yrs. He’s toured Europe, North America, and the Far East with Dennis Rollins Academy of Saint Martin in the Fields, as guest timpanist with Sir Neville Marriner, Murray Perahia, and Joshua Bell and more recently with his own Solo Segundo, Dennis Rollins’ Velocity Trio, Judith Owen, and his Hammond Organ and Drums duo with Ross Stanley.

We talked Judith, Harry Shearer, Lee Sklar, Marcus Eaton, his early days in his native Portugal with his talented pianist/vocalist, sister, their supportive parents, studying there, and then in London. Making his way to America, falling in love, and manifesting his childhood dream.

Pedro's music can be found here: https://spoti.fi/3aIsrwc & http://www.pedrosegundo.com/

Grateful for a soulfilling hour of gentle gifts.

This GC 's & Pedro's closing tune are dedicated to Flo Lawrence, another beautiful soul who left us this day.

Pedro Segundo on Game Changers With Vicki Abelson

Wed, 8/19/20, Live @5pm PT

Live on The Facebook

Replay here:

https://bit.ly/3aEC4fD

All BROADcasts, as podcasts, also available on

iTunes apple.co/2dj8ld3

Soundcloud http://bit.ly/2hktWoS

Stitcher bit.ly/2h3R1fl

tunein bit.ly/2gGeItj

YouTube https://bit.ly/31aIvny

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 peoples, like me. I love my hair, and I loves Nicole. http://www.rubybegoniahairstudio.com/

Blue Microphones and Kevin Walt

And, Peter And Paul Cartoons.

Chicken soup for the COVID soul. Seventy minutes in heaven with impressionist, comedian, actor, icon, John Byner. A hero of mine for as long as I can remember, he exceeded all my hopes, as a talent and a human. What a lovely, lovely man. I suspect his fabulous attitude had much to do with his wonderful career and the spectacular life he lives. He appreciates and cherishes it all. John's a power of example.

We talked his early days at The Vanguard in the Village, getting his first TV break on a Merv Griffith talent show and then, Ed Sullivan, for John, a life changer. He treated us to his iconic Sullivan impression with Topo Gigio, including my favorite, "Kiss me goodnight, Eddie." Swoon. Dean Martin, Jerry Lewis, Frank Sinatra, Georgie Jessel, Walter Brennan, John Wayne, Johnny Mathis, Mel Torme... a comic feast. John talked about Get Smart, The Carol Burnett Show, Hollywood Squares, Soap, hosting Something Else, The John Byner Comedy Hour, Bizarre, Super Dave writing his memoir, Five Minutes, Mr. Byner! https://amzn.to/2PMQdO2 which just dropped. Filled with great showbiz and real life stories, it's a wonderfully entertaining, well-written read by a master storyteller.

I loved every second in John's good company and will cherish this time with him, always. It's the antidote to the corona blues.

John Byner on Game Changers With Vicki Abelson

Wed, 8/12/20, Live @5pm PT

Live on The Facebook

Replay here:
https://bit.ly/2XXxvb1

YouTube https://bit.ly/2ClTfFW

All BROADcasts, as podcasts, also available on

iTunes apple.co/2dj8ld3

Soundcloud http://bit.ly/2hktWoS

Stitcher bit.ly/2h3R1fl

tunein bit.ly/2gGeItj

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 peoples, like me. I love my hair, and I loves Nicole. http://www.rubybegoniahairstudio.com/

And, Blue Microphones. Thanks, Blue and Kevin Walt

For an hour + I forgot there's a pandemic and that I haven't heard live music in 5 months. Liberty Devitto filled the air and my heart with rock 'n roll. One of the greatest drummers of all time, Billy Joel's, Liberty Devitto, now bestselling author of LIBERTY, Life, Billy & the Pursuit of Happiness

(https://amzn.to/2CP8qrg ) sat down and banged it out with me. We talked Billy, of course, the reconicliation, the angry years, the beginning, 30 yrs of crazy fun and brilliant creativity, to growing up and cooling down. We talked his whacky, wild, family of origin, his beautiful successful daughters, and his baby, at 3, a Beatles aficionado ... Vanilla Fudge, touring with Mitch Ryder as a teen, arenas, stadiums, Steve Winwood, The Lords of 52nd Street, Richie Cannata, Russell Javors, NYC Hit Squad and Clean Getaway with Ricky Byrd, Little Kids Rock, writing a bestseller and now playing Drive-ins, the new not normal concert venues.

Affable, entertaining, warm and real, I love this man, and can't wait to see him and hear him play again.

Liberty Devitto on Game Changers With Vicki Abelson

Wed, 8/5/20, Live @5pm PT

Live on The Facebook

Replay here:

https://bit.ly/30wpb3P

All BROADcasts, as podcasts, also available on

iTunes apple.co/2dj8ld3

Soundcloud http://bit.ly/2hktWoS

Stitcher bit.ly/2h3R1fl

tunein bit.ly/2gGeItj]

YouTube https://bit.ly/3fFCljr

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 peoples, like me. I love my hair, and I loves Nicole. http://www.rubybegoniahairstudio.com/

Blue Microphones and Kevin Walt

Spectacular chat with Butch Patrick, from pre-Eddie Munster... a cute sister and a charming mom helped pave the way to his first film at 7, with Eddie Albert, Jane Wyatt, and Soupie Sales, on The Two Little Bears. His resume is a time capsule of my youth. We talked about his guest starring roles on Ben Casey, Bonanza, My Favorite Martian, Mister Ed, Rawhide, The Real McCoys, and General Hospital, leading to The Munsters. The fun there with mentors Al Lewis and Fred Gwynne, and movie star at the time, Yvonne DeCarlo. How life changed and led to roles on My Three Sons, I Dream of Jeannie, and a week on The Monkees having the time of his life. Passing on a starring role in unknown George Lucas's American Grafitti, missing the draft by thismuch... partying himself into some troubled times, becoming a pop star with Whatever Happened to Eddie Munster, which led to MTV's Basement Tapes. Some more partying and trouble followed, leading to gettting sober and finding his niche. He's survived cancer, is COVID comfortable... he knows who he is, and is Butch Patrick comfortable. I loved every minute, and am more than a little thrilled to have spent some time in the company of my childhood Munster adoration. Such fun. Corona be damned!

Butch Patrick on Game Changers With Vicki Abelson

Wed, 7/29/20, Live @5pm PT

Live on The Facebook

Replay here:

https://bit.ly/33eL7Sy

All BROADcasts, as podcasts, also available on

iTunes apple.co/2dj8ld3

Soundcloud http://bit.ly/2hktWoS

Stitcher bit.ly/2h3R1fl

tunein bit.ly/2gGeItj

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 peoples, like me. I love my hair, and I loves Nicole. http://www.rubybegoniahairstudio.com/

Blue Microphones. Thanks, Blue and Kevin Walt

Nancy Allen On Game Changers With Vicki Abelson by Vicki Abelson