Media Path Podcast

John Sebastian’s rich musical catalogue reflects a life deeply steeped in craft, cultural resonance and history. John’s career has taken him from The Lovin’ Spoonful to Bob Dylan to Mama Cass to Woodstock to movie soundtracks and beyond. 

John joins us to share stories of his creatively colorful Greenwich Village childhood, surrounded by folk and classical luminaries, his harmonica virtuoso father, his screenwriting mother and his Godmother, Vivian Vance!

His talent and experiences inspired him to write and record an ecclectic array of hits including: Summer In The City, Darlin’ Be Home Soon, Welcome Back, Nashville Cats, You Didn’t Have To Be So Nice, Did You Ever Have To Make Up Your Mind, Do You Believe In Magic and a bunch more.

And John comes to us brining word of his newest album with Arlen Roth called John and Arlen Explore The Lovin’ Spoonful Songbook.

Plus, Fritz and Weezy are recommending Harry and Meghan on Netflix and Harry Chapin: When In Doubt, Do Something, on Prime Video. Also, we introduce our first Helping Folks Help charity partner, Children's Burn Foundation.

Path Points of Interest:

John Sebastian

John and Arlen Revisit The Lovin' Spoonful Songbook

John Sebastion in The Songwriters' Hall of Fame

J.B.s Harmonica by John Sebastian

Darlin' Be Home Soon Live On The Ed Sullivan Show

Harry and Meghan - Netflix 

Harry Chapin: When In Doubt, Do Something

Children's Burn Foundation

We welcome radio royalty. Two kings, baring gifts of knowledge, experience, stories and maybe some myrrh. Guy Zapoleon, President of Zapoleon Consulting, is a veteran of almost 50 years in the business. He’s programmed and consulted major radio stations including KIIS-FM in Los Angeles, Z100 in New York and KZZP in Phoenix.

Jhani Kaye is the longest running Program Director of a music station in the country’s largest market, Los Angeles, working with KOST-FM for 23 years.

Guy and Jhani tell us what drew them to radio, how they started, what they’ve learned, the hit records they launched and, within an era of streaming media, what is to become of radio!?

We get way into the fun and fantastic heyday of radio replete with big personalities, big hits and bigger hair. The promotions and publicity stunts, the 10-year music cycle, what the future looks like and so much more.... plus, our co-hosts weigh in with their own radio background stories, Fritz having started his media career on the air, on a ship in the Navy and Weezy as co-founder of Premiere Radio Networks, now part of iHeartMedia!

All of that plus Fritz and Weezy are recommending 'Sr.' on Netflix + 'Spector' on Showtime.

Path Points of Interest:

Guy Zapoleon

Guy Zapoleon’s 2021 10-Year Music Cycle Update

Music Cycle Updated, Part 1

Music Cycles, Part 2

Sr.- Netflix

Spector on Showtime 

At the age of 19, David Leaf created a To-Do list: 

1) Write about Brian Wilson 

2) Become his friend 

3) Help him finish SMILE. 

Mission accomplished.

You may know Brian as an extraordinary artist who spread surf, song and Southern California style around the world, but there is SO much more to uncover.

David has released an expanded version of his seminal tome entitled ‘God Only Knows” The Story of Brian Wilson, The Beach Boys and the California Myth,’. First published in 1978, and updated in 1985, the story continues to unfold and this definitive opus has been extensively bookended with what amounts to an entirely bonus book of Brian Lore.

David joins us for an in-depth conversation, digging into Brian Wilson's artistry and influences as we explore his relationships with family, fellow Beach Boys + the triumphant hero’s journey of 'SMiLE’. 

Plus, Fritz and Weezy are recommending 1899 on Netflix and the movie 'She Said', now in theaters.

Path Points of Interest:

David Leaf

God Only Knows by David Leaf

Long Promised Road Trailer

Brian Wilson: Long Promised Road

Beautiful Dreamer: The Story of Smile Documentary

I Just Wasn't Made For These Times (Don Was's Brian Wilson Documentary)

BBC production of God Only Knows  

God Only Knows Reader’s Guide 

VIP Experience for purchasing the book 

David Leaf at UCLA 

1899 - Netflix

She Said - In Theaters 

Liz Astrof is a writer, producer and show runner who has helped create some of your favorite sitcoms, including King of Queens, 2 Broke Girls, Whitney, Becker and Last Man Standing, while precariously balancing marriage, career and children beyond the storm of her own darkly dangerous childhood.

Liz has written a wickedly funny, raw and revealing book, called 'STAY-AT-WORK MOM' which hilariously pours a conflicted cocktail of emotions, highly relatable to anyone who has ever attempted to build a career, raise a family, or, boldly do both!

Liz provides us with an inside look at her difficult childhood, her parenting style, her creative process, working with tightly wound  comedian/actor types and sharing a career path with her writer/brother Jeff.

Plus, Fritz and Weezy are recommending the The Automat documentary  and Hallelujah: Leonard Cohen, A Journey, A Song.

Path Points of Interest:

Liz Astrof Amazon Author Page

Liz Astrof on IMDB

Stay at Work Mom: Marriage, Kids and Other Disasters by Liz Astrof

Liz Astrof on Instagram

Liz Astrof on Twitter

The Automat - Amazon Prime

Hallelujah: Leonard Cohen, A journey, A Song 

Justin Timberlake and Matt Morris Perform Hallelujah at Hope for Haiti TV event

Mariane and Leonard: Words of Love 

Leonard Cohen Website

We are three guests deep, welcoming Guy’s Guy, Robert Manni whose brand and purpose are all about guiding men and boys through an ever-changing cultural landscape towards a better understanding of themselves, women and our collective human experience.

From there, we’re backstage with The Cowsills who are bedecked with jolly and about to take the stage for the Andy Williams Moon River Theater Christmas Extravaganza in Branson. 

The Cowsills just dropped brand new music with their album, Rhythm of the World, they share a special history with our co-host Louise Palanker who directed the doc, Family Band: The Cowsills Story, they are armed with teen idol memories and ready to play Teen Mag Trivia AND, they will close out their appearance here with a helping of Christmas Carol!

We culminate with KCRW’s Steve Chiotakis, host of Greater L.A. and a man who truly understands Los Angeles on a granular, neighborhood level. What do Angelenos need and expect from their local NPR station? How is public media structured? What is the news/music/information mix that suits listeners? And how can public radio best entertain and inform the people it serves? 

Plus Fritz and Weezy are celebrating British women of particular note and character, recommending The Crown and Enola Holmes on Netflix and PBS’s Miss Scarlet and The Duke.

Path Points of Interest:

The Cowsills

Rhythm of the World

Rhythm of the World on Youtube

The Cowsills Podcast

The Happy Together Tour

Family Band: The Cowsills Story on Prime

The Andy Williams Moon River Theater

The Cowsills on Facebook

Susie squeals on The Cowsills 

Bob Answers 80 Intimate Questions

Our Hates and Loves by The Cowsills 

Fritz and Weezy on The Cowsills' Podcast

Robert Manni

The Guy's Guy Guide To Love by Robert Manni

Guy's Guy TV 

Guy's Guy Podcast

Fritz and Weezy on Guy's Guy TV  

Fritz and Weezy on Guy's Guy Podcast 

Robert Manni on Instagram

Robert Manni on Twitter

Robert Manni on Facebook

Steve Chiotakis

KCRW

Steve Chiotakis Socials 

@RadioChio. 

Steve Chiotakis on Facebook

Born and Razed

Greater L.A.

Fritz and Weezy on Greater L.A.

Miss Scarlet and The Duke on PBS

Enola Holmes on Netflix

The Crown

In 2009, Tom Vann and Daniel Dennis left their corporate radio gigs and ventured boldly into the great unknown of podcasting with their under promisingly titled show, A Mediocre Time with Tom and Dan. 

Armed with only their well-honed rapport, technical know-how, business acumen and a hearty helping of tenacity, Tom and Dan have successfully transitioned, along with their Orlando, FL fan base, from terrestrial radio to streaming audio, bringing their charismatic, easy chemistry and fearless candor to a devoted following who have endearingly labeled themselves, “Scumbags.”

It hasn't been easy. T & D have sacrificed and faced difficult decisions. They’ve contended with  legal entanglements and crash coursed the basics of running the sales & marketing end of their business. Tom and Dan join us to talk about everything from publicity stunts to, baring their souls to podcast monetization!

Plus, Fritz and Weezy are recommending Tár, now in theaters and God Forbid: The Sex Scandal That Brought Down a Dynasty on Hulu.

Path Points of Interest:

A Mediocre Time with Tom and Dan

A Mediocre Documentary with Tom and Dan

About Tom and Dan

Tom and Dan on Twitch

Tom and Dan on Youtube

Tom and Dan on Facebook

Tom and Dan on Twitter

A Corporate Time With Tom and Dan

Tar - In Theaters

God Forbid: The Sex Scandal that Brought Down a Dynasty

Off The Deep End: 

Jerry and Becki Falwell and the Collapse of an Evangelical Dynasty 

Hillsong Exposed

Don McMillan took the path less traveled, in fact he may be that path’s lone pedestrian. Don came to stand-up comedy from Silicon Valley. A former engineer with a Masters from Stanford, the comedy and problem solving portions of Don’s brain have collaborated to craft a unique act that features a hilarious roast of power point presentations, illustrated, of course, by a power point presentation.

Don’s uniquely relatable brand of stand-up took him to the semi-finals on this year’s America’s Got Talent. With jokes that are perfectly pithy, while maintaining all the elegance of the Pythagorean Theorem, Don has established a Corporate comedy niche that finds him performing consistently for an audience of global brand giants.

Don joins us with AGT behind-the-scenes secrets, success tips and power point dos and don’ts!

Plus, Weezy recommends ORDINARY GRACE by William Kent Krueger and Fritz's pick is B.J. Novak’s VENGEANCE.

Path Points of Interest:

Don McMillan

Don McMillan on Youtube

Don McMillan AGT Semifinals

Don McMillan on Twitter

Don McMillan on Instagram

Vengeance - Prime

Ordinary Grace by William Kent Krueger

Our guest is Joyce Chopra who broke bold ground as a female filmmaker in the 1970s with her award winning documentary short, Joyce at 34, profiling her own struggle as a working woman, to have and raise a child. The film’s existence thus proving that she could do both.

Her Sundance winning feature, (One of the first directed by a woman) Smooth Talk (1985) starring Treat Williams and Laura Dern opened doors to male dominated spaces that she treacherously navigated, paving paths for others to follow.

Joyce’s new book, Lady Director: Adventures in Hollywood, Television and Beyond, tells her captivating stories.

Also joining us is Jan Perry a Los Angeles civic leader now serving as Executive Director of Shelter Partnership which helps provide essential needs to the unhoused. Jan shares that we can all work together to help address the homeless crisis in our cities.

Plus, Fritz and Weezy are recommending Amsterdam in theaters and a Jazzman’s Blues on Netflix.

Path Points of Interest:

Lady Director: Adventures in Hollywood, Television and Beyond by Joyce Chopra

Lady Director at City Lights Books

Joyce Chopra on IMDB

Joyce at 34

Smooth Talk

Smooth Talk on IMDB

ByKids - Real World Films For Kids, By Kids

An American Girl on the Home Front

Joyce Chopra Films on Criterion

Shelter Partnership

Shelter Partnership on Facebook

Shelter Partnership on Twitter

Jan Perry

Amsterdam

A Jazzman's Blues

Gift of Democracy

Brad Onishi and Dan Miller are authors, scholars, educators and thought leaders who share similar histories as Christian ministers who have migrated beyond their flock. From this unique and compelling perspective, they are perfectly positioned to observe and discuss the rise and current political influence of Christian Nationalism. Their hit podcast, Straight White American Jesus explores the Christian Right’s emerging influence in shaping our political landscape. 

We chat with Brad and Dan about their experiences within the church and its teachings and why their perspectives began to shift. We delve into the role played by Orange County, California in the birth of the religious right, (Brad preached at a Yorba Linda megachurch). We consider how Evangelicals square their values with their votes for Donald Trump and so much more.

Plus, Fritz and Weezy recommend Rachel Maddox’s new podcast ULTRA and Geoffrey Berman's book, Holding The Line.

Path Points of Interest:

Straight White American Jesus

Brad Onishi's Website

The Orange Wave - A History of the Religious Right Since 1960

SWAJ Live Event

SWAJ on Patreon

Preparing for War: The Extremist History of White Christian Nationalism--and What Comes Next by Bradley Onishi 

Daniel Miller on Amazon

Rachel Maddox’s new podcast ULTRA 

Holding The Line by Geoffrey Berman

Media and Music Producer Spencer Proffer joins us to talk about his Paramount + doc, The Day The Music Died which beautifully tells the story of the song that lives on, Don McLean’s American Pie. 

Plus, Audio Content Creators Georgia Wright and Kenia Hale are using storytelling to share the important narrative of how climate change is impacting the lives of young people throughout the world. Their New York Times recommended podcast, Inherited creatively embraces the youth climate movement.

And Fritz and Weezy are recommending Chasing Trane on Hulu and Severance on Apple +.

Path Points of Interest:

Spencer Proffer and Meteor 17

The Day The Music Died on Paramount + 

Spencer Proffer - Bio

Spencer Proffer on Wikipedia

More on The Way The Music Died

American Pie interpretations

Inherited Podcast

Georgia Wright

Kenia Hale

Chasing Trane - Hulu 

Severance 

Gift of Democracy