On Cue

This episode is not for the faint of heart. It's Trish's turn to direct her dream funeral, and she's not exactly squeamish about this sort of thing.

Plus, her favorite thing this week is her gaggle of skeleton friends in the front yard, along with the musical soundtrack Liz has provided for this year's Halloween scene.

Got a question or topic for discussion in a future episode? Please email us or send a voice memo to [email protected].

This episode is produced and edited by Kathleen Gallacher.

This week’s cocktail or mocktail – THE TURKEY VULTURE:

1 ½ oz gin (for mocktail, use soda water)
1 oz pomegranate molasses
¾ oz fresh lemon juice (about ¾ medium lemon)
½ dry pomegranate juice
3-4 dashes rose water
2-3 ounces chilled Champagne (for mocktail, use lemon-lime soda or sparkling juice)

Shake all ingredients except the champagne/sparkling juice in a shaker, then strain into a champagne flute or coupe, top with the champagne/sparkling juice, and garnish with a fresh lemon twist.

MUSIC FROM THIS EPISODE:

Music From Episode 23  - Trish's Funeral

Record Of The Week

Theme Song - Ends Of The Earth by Simon Steadman and T.T. Magruber

Dr. Amanda Gretsch, PhD, MS, OTR/L, is an occupational therapist with nearly 25 years of experience working with individuals who have sensory and motor issues, trauma history, attention issues, Cerebral Vascular Accident (CVA) and Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI). She also helps people simply improve their overall brain function. Happily, she's one of Liz's best friends, and she joins us this week to discuss how our brains and emotions are affected by music. She even used EEGs to track differences in our brain activity while we listened to our favorite happy and sad music!

Liz's favorite thing this week is her new t-shirt hookup: teepublic.com

THIS WEEK'S COCKTAIL OR MOCKTAIL: The Alpha Coherence

2 ½ ozs Vodka
¾ oz Vermouth
¾  Trader Joe's Hot and Sweet Jalapeño brine

Garnish with 2 Olives stuffed with Trader Joe's Hot and Sweet Jalapeños

Music From Episode 22

Record Of The Week

Theme Song - Ends Of The Earth by Simon Steadman and T.T. Magruber

Spooky Season is in full swing. As the Northern Hemisphere turns toward darker days, we here at On Cue are turning towards darker topics.

This week, Liz lovingly and thoughtfully curates a soundtrack and emotional musical experience to score her dream funeral. Discover who shows up to celebrate Liz's life, what bands reunite in her memory, and which tracks will be sending her off to the Underworld.

Plus, Trish discusses her new love for environmentally-responsible wax-free liquid candles and her favorite all-natural botanical incense, perfect for moody autumn nights. You can find the forever candles here and the seasonal incense here.

Got a question or topic for discussion in a future episode? Please email us or send a voice memo to [email protected].

This episode is produced and edited by Kathleen Gallacher.

This week’s cocktail or mocktail – THE TRAPEZE SWINGER:

2 oz Vodka (for mocktail, use 2 oz tonic water or lemon-lime soda)
¾  oz simple syrup (skip for mocktail)
1 oz fresh lime juice
7 mint leaves
2 slices of cucumber 

Muddle the cucumber slices and mint leaves in a cocktail shaker, then add the liquid ingredient and ice. Shake and strain into a chilled glass; garnish with fresh mint and a slice of cucumber.

MUSIC FROM THIS EPISODE:

Music From Episode 21

Record Of The Week

Theme Song - Ends Of The Earth - Simon Steadman and T.T. Magruber

Kestrin is a rock cellist who has appeared onstage alongside Weezer, Beck and Brandi Carlile. She also invented, built and captained a legendary glam RV which she and Disney imagineers outfitted as a rave cave karaoke studio. She's written, directed and starred in feature films. She plays with David Wain and Ken Marino's Middle Aged Dad Jam Band. She lived in Taiwan for a while and speaks fluent Mandarin. There's more to say about Kestrin than any single episode of a podcast can possibly cover, but we get to as much as we can.

Kestrin and her work can be be found here.

The Middle Aged Dad Jam Band can be found here.

Plus, Trish's favorite thing this week is West Coast Swing dance classes. Wanna get dancing, too? Her favorite places to take lessons in LA are with Tip & Teveya and at Motivo.

Got a question or topic for discussion in a future episode? Please email us or send a voice memo to [email protected].

This episode is produced and edited by Kathleen Gallacher.

This week’s cocktail or mocktail – THE DIRECTOR'S CUT:

1 oz gin (for mocktail, use 2 oz tonic water. We loved Fever Tree's elderberry tonic water in this concoction.)
½ oz Cointreau (for mocktail, use a few dashes of orange bitters)
½ oz Suze Aperitif (for mocktail, use white grape juice)
1 oz preserved lemon juice (Radical Radish's Chef Nina's recipe here!)

Shake all ingredients over ice and serve strained into a chilled glass. Use preserved lemon as a garnish.

MUSIC FROM THIS EPISODE:

Music From Episode 20

Record Of The Week

Theme Song - Ends Of The Earth = Simon Steadman and T.T. Magruber

Gemma writes about music, fashion, and culture, specializing in intimate one-on-one artist interviews. While her sub-par drawing skills ruled out a coveted career in fashion design, she's found her niche, and this month celebrates the tenth anniversary of PUSS PUSS magazine. As co-editor, she's passionate about helping PUSS PUSS channel the insouciant, indomitable and independent spirit of cats in fashion and pop culture.

Gemma delivers some choice dirt on her most memorable interviews, the fresh new artists she's loving these days, and why Empire Records is her favorite movie. Plus, she reads the Tarot card of the week!

Got a question or topic for discussion in a future episode? Please email us or send a voice memo to [email protected].

This episode is produced and edited by Kathleen Gallacher.

This week’s cocktail or mocktail – THE CAT'S MEOW 
1 oz rum infused overnight with spearmint (for mocktail, use 1 oz ginger ale infused with spearmint)
1 oz gingerale
½ oz coconut water
½ oz fresh lemon juice

Shake all ingredients over ice, then serve straight up into a chilled glass, garnished with fresh mint or basil.

MUSIC FROM THIS EPISODE:

Music From Episode 19

Record Of The Week

Theme Song - Ends Of The Earth - Simon Steadman and T.T. Magruber

Sheila has years of experience in the entertainment industry, ever since the show biz bug got a hold of her at age 15. She ditched her plan to become a lawyer and dove headfirst into filmmaking by the time she graduated high school.

Fast forward to today: as SVP of Creative Development at Warner Bros, Sheila has worked on the critically acclaimed musical adaptations of THE COLOR PURPLE and IN THE HEIGHTS, as well as TWISTERS and GODZILLA X KONG sequels, plus the upcoming films FLOWERVALE STREET and a forthcoming project with BLACK PANTHER director, Ryan Coogler. And that's just the tip of the iceberg.

We discuss the movies that move us, personal playlists for all occasions, the challenges of adapting musicals to the screen, and the importance of culture in storytelling and entertainment.

Got a question or topic for discussion in a future episode? Please email us or send a voice memo to [email protected].

This episode is produced and edited by Kathleen Gallacher.

This week’s cocktail or mocktail – THE BLACK PANTHER 
1 oz tequila (for mocktail, use ginger ale)
½ oz Morin Licor de Cafe (for mocktail, use a shot of coffee or espresso)
½ oz Vanilla Liqueur (for mocktail, use vanilla syrup)

Shake all ingredients over ice, then serve straight up into a chilled glass with a coffee bean or two as garnish.

MUSIC FROM THIS EPISODE:

Music From Episode 18

Record Of The Week

Theme Song - Ends Of The Earth - Simon Steadman and T.T. Magruber

To be honest, we don't fully trust anyone who doesn't love a good movie montage. This week, we break down our favorites... and the songs that fuel them. 

Plus, Liz is recently back from the UK and teaches us how to make this week's favorite thing: proper English scones and a good strong cup of British tea. 

Got a question or topic for discussion in a future episode? Please email us or send a voice memo to [email protected]. 

This  episode is produced by Kathleen Gallacher and edited by Trish Sie. 

This week cocktail isn't really a cocktail... LIZ'S PERFECT CUPPA: 

Heat your water to 200°F/93°C. 
Swish hot water around in your teapot to warm it up before brewing. 
Use one tea bag per person (we love Yorkshire gold), plop the tea bags into the pot, then fill with hot water. 
Wait three minutes then pour the perfect cuppa. 
Liz doesn't approve of using lemon, although she acknowledges it as an option. 
Instead, she recommends a splash of whole milk; sugar to taste. 

SCONE RECIPE:

Liz used Jamie Oliver's perfect scone recipe to make some delicious crumbly scones, link to recipe below:

https://www.jamieoliver.com/recipes/fruit/crumbliest-scones/

MUSIC FROM THIS EPISODE:

Music From Episode 17

Record Of The Week

Theme Song - Ends Of The Earth - Simon Steadman and T.T. Magruber

Russell Emanuel is a pioneering leader, disruptor and music producer, serving as the CEO, Chief Creative Officer, and co-founder of both Extreme Music and Bleeding Fingers Music. By introducing world-renowned artists and composers—such as Hans Zimmer, Quincy Jones, Sir George Martin, and Snoop Dogg—into the music library space, he's elevated the standard for quality in production music. Russell also transformed the industry by championing the shift from purely instrumental tracks to vocal-led songs, recognizing the demand for music that could tell stories and evoke emotions more powerfully. His innovative approach attracted top-tier talent and redefined what a music library could be.

At Bleeding Fingers Music, co-founded in partnership with legendary composer Hans Zimmer, Russell has built a dynamic, collaborative environment where some of the industry's most vital new composers thrive. Headquartered in Santa Monica, the company is recognized for its unmatched balance of musical creativity, collaboration, and efficiency. The award-winning team at Bleeding Fingers has scored prestigious series and landmark projects, including The Simpsons, Planet Earth, Blue Planet II, Seven Worlds, One Planet, Frozen Planet II, and Apple TV+'s Prehistoric Planet, produced with Jon Favreau.

Here's what Trish is into this week: The Extended Mind, by Annie Murphy Paul.

Got a question or topic for discussion in a future episode? Please email us or send a voice memo to [email protected].

This episode is produced and edited by Kathleen Gallacher.

This week’s cocktail or mocktail – THE LIBRARY TRACK:

½ oz Cynar artichoke amaro (for mocktail, use bitter molasses plus a sprinkle of tarragon)

1½ oz golden rum (for mocktail, use 2 oz orange or grapefruit juice)

½ oz Amaretto (for mocktail, use a few drops of almond extract)

Shake all ingredients over ice, then strain into a chilled glass and garnish with fennel or some other fresh herb that smells exciting.

MUSIC FROM THIS EPISODE:

Music From Episode 16

Record Of The Week

Theme Song - Ends Of The Earth - Simon Steadman and T.T. Magruber

Nothing kicks off a movie quite as effectively as the right musical choice, positioned perfectly to set the tone for the entire film. When executed well, the sequence introduces us to an entire world, conveys nuanced character details, relationships and plot points, and establishes a rhythm and mood that will carry us through the whole story.

This week, we share our personal favorite musical openings to movies.   

Plus, you here’s Liz’s current obsession,  SAUNA AUFGUSS.   

Got a question or topic for discussion in a future episode? Please email us or send a voice memo to [email protected].  

This episode is produced by Kathleen Gallacher and edited by Trish Sie.   

This week’s cocktail or mocktail-- THE MR. HAND  

1 oz gin (for mocktail use tonic or tonic syrup)  
½ oz dry vermouth (for mocktail use white grape juice)  
½ oz grapefruit liqueur (we used Giffard Creme de Pamplemousse. For mocktail, go with white grapefuit juice)  
½ oz fresh lemon juice  

Shake all ingredients over ice, then strain into a chilled glass and garnish with a twist of grapefruit peel.  

MUSIC FROM THIS EPISODE: 

Music From Episode 15

Record Of The Week

Theme Song - Ends Of The Earth - Simon Steadman and T.T. Magruber

This week, we're getting into it with vocalist, songwriter, videographer and composer/producer KÁRYYN. 

The press has dubbed her “a sonic architect” (Dazed); “an electronic adventurer” (FACT) who “makes music as a way of travel, moving through memories with sound” (CLOT Magazine). In the album’s Pitchfork review, Sasha Geffen wrote: “Death hangs heavy over the record, but in its shadow, KÁRYYN projects herself into the future.”   

Following a prolific period of inward healing and creating, she readies her newest work, Calm KAOSS! EP, which she created in partnership with British record producer James Ford. In this new project, KÁRYYN communes with her past, present and future selves, traveling through time to reveal transformative premonitions from the future in scientific and spiritual language. 

She's deep and intense... but also joyful, silly, and seriously FUN. 

Plus, here’s what Trish is into this week:   
The Age Of Magical Thinking, by Amanda Montell.

The companion podcast is here! 

Also mentioned: Art Craft Blend on Instagram.  

Got a question or topic for discussion in a future episode? Please email us or send a voice memo to [email protected].  

This episode is produced and edited  by Kathleen Gallacher.  

This week’s cocktail or mocktail – THE CALM KAOSS!  

1 oz Laird's Applejack (for mocktail, use ½ oz water and ½ apple cider vinegar)  
1 oz ginger liquor (for mocktail use ginger beer or ginger syrup)  
4 dashes of apple bitters (we used Greenbar-- very herbaceous, very bitter)
½ oz fresh lime juice
½ oz sparkling apple cider or ginger beer  

Shake all ingredients over ice and strain into a sexy glass, then garnish with a fresh apple sliver.  

MUSIC FROM THIS EPISODE: 

Music From Episode 14

Record Of The Week

Theme Song - Ends Of The Earth by Simon Steadman and T.T. Magruber