Texas Radio Hall of Famer and SiriusXM radio personality Ron Parker is in the studio with me today, talking about radio up and down the dial - and every city in between! Ron discusses 60's and 70's music, those 80’s radio promotions with MTV, his stint at ABC Radio Networks in Dallas; programming KKBQ and KLDE in Houston; along with gigs at KFRC in San Francisco, WLS Chicago and WCBS FM in New York. We also talk about the radio DJ's who inspired us as kids: he with New York radio legend Cousin Brucie (Bruce Morrow) and mine - Boom Boom Brannigan of WPTR in upstate New York. So with all these stories, is a book about the radio biz in the works for Ron? He definitely has a title for it! Tune in and find out from this award winning radio personality and program director.

About the Spotlight Conversations podcast:

Tune in as I invite friends inside my cozy linoleum free recording studio to talk about all things media - radio, television, music, film, voiceovers, audiobooks, publishing - if guests are in the media spotlight, we're talking! Refreshingly unscripted and always entertaining, listen in as each guest gets real about their careers in the entertainment biz, from where they started to how it's going. So settle into my swanky studio where drinks are on ice and the conversation starters are music + media - always a deal breaker for the rock and roll homemaker! 

New episodes drop every other Tuesday. 

Listen to Donna every night as she shares her fave Classic Hits from the 60s, 70s & 80s starting at 9 on Houston Radio Platinum (get the app for the station in your App Store!) Then hang out for her evening seqment on the show called 'Late Night Spotlight'- intimate, unscripted interviews with guests from the entertainment industry, airing Monday through Friday at 10PM CT/11:00 ET 

Social media links, website and more here
Follow and subscribe here

Booth Announcer: Joe Szymans...

So when you're a screenwriter with over 15 million views on YouTube, you gotta have a lot of good advice about writing, and my guest today does just that! Meet Marc Isaacs, writer for the very successful comedy short film 'First Timers', who talks about the incredible success of the sex comedy plus working with fellow Houston native and film director Gilbert Sosa. Marc also discusses working with Houston television station KHOU and receiving the very first Lone Star Emmy nomination for producing  the children's program Houston Zooperstars Challenge; his first job as a weather forecaster (sans meteorology degree - yup, he's that versatile); how baseball, soccer and growing up in upstate New York inspired his creative career; giving and getting direction as an actor and voice talent; and the new screenplay he's working on. Join us - and be sure to take notes!

About the Spotlight Conversations podcast:

Tune in as I invite friends inside my cozy linoleum free recording studio to talk about all things media - radio, television, music, film, voiceovers, audiobooks, publishing - if guests are in the media spotlight, we're talking! Refreshingly unscripted and always entertaining, listen in as each guest gets real about their careers in the entertainment biz, from where they started to how it's going. So settle into my swanky studio where drinks are on ice and the conversation starters are music + media - always a deal breaker for the rock and roll homemaker! 

New episodes drop every other Tuesday. 

Listen to Donna every night as she shares her fave Classic Hits from the 60s, 70s & 80s starting at 9 on Houston Radio Platinum (get the app for the station in your App Store!) Then hang out for her evening seqment on the show called 'Late Night Spotlight'- intimate, unscripted interviews with guests from the entertainment industry, airing Monday through Friday at 10PM CT/11:00 ET 

Social media links, website and more here
Follow and subscribe here

Booth Announcer: Joe Szymans...

Audiobooks. Just about everyone is recording one. But have you thought about what it takes in producing and narrating an audiobook? My guest Curtis Michael, a successful audiobook narrator for Romance and Young Adult fiction, talks about what it's like behind the scenes (yes, we said that!) in this week's podcast. Currently teaching students drama and theatre at an international school in Hong Kong, the Canadian born voice actor talks about what to do before recording, including tips on reading (tiny spoiler alert: 'preparation'), finding your literary niche and why narrating audiobooks differs from all other forms of voiceover. Join us!

About the Spotlight Conversations podcast:

Tune in as I invite friends inside my cozy linoleum free recording studio to talk about all things media - radio, television, music, film, voiceovers, audiobooks, publishing - if guests are in the media spotlight, we're talking! Refreshingly unscripted and always entertaining, listen in as each guest gets real about their careers in the entertainment biz, from where they started to how it's going. So settle into my swanky studio where drinks are on ice and the conversation starters are music + media - always a deal breaker for the rock and roll homemaker! 

New episodes drop every other Tuesday. 

Listen to Donna every night as she shares her fave Classic Hits from the 60s, 70s & 80s starting at 9 on Houston Radio Platinum (get the app for the station in your App Store!) Then hang out for her evening seqment on the show called 'Late Night Spotlight'- intimate, unscripted interviews with guests from the entertainment industry, airing Monday through Friday at 10PM CT/11:00 ET 

Social media links, website and more here
Follow and subscribe here

Booth Announcer: Joe Szymans...

In Hollywood today talking with American voiceover actor Beau Weaver, talking about how he made the challenging transition from a career in radio personality (KILT and KULF/Houston; KFRC/San Francisco; KHJ/Los Angeles) to voice actor; becoming one of the pioneers of satellite broadcasting as an original member of the air staff for 'Transtar Radio Network'; the backstory of his first promo voice company called "Three Fine Pipes" and how taking classes with legendary voiceover actress Joan Gerber helped launch him into a successful voiceover career with clients such as Animal Planet, National Geographic and Entertainment Tonight, to providing the voice of Superman/Clark Kent in the Ruby-Spears produced animated series 'Superman' and later as Reed Richards/Mister Fantastic in Marvel's 'Fantastic Four'. The candid and always original Beau also explains how to balance working hard and setting goals together with being inspired and being present (a harder lesson to learn as he describes in the podcast); plus two things he does every day that bring him joy. Sit back, tune in and learn from this master storyteller! 

About the Spotlight Conversations podcast:

Tune in as I invite friends inside my cozy linoleum free recording studio to talk about all things media - radio, television, music, film, voiceovers, audiobooks, publishing - if guests are in the media spotlight, we're talking! Refreshingly unscripted and always entertaining, listen in as each guest gets real about their careers in the entertainment biz, from where they started to how it's going. So settle into my swanky studio where drinks are on ice and the conversation starters are music + media - always a deal breaker for the rock and roll homemaker! 

New episodes drop every other Tuesday. 

Listen to Donna every night as she shares her fave Classic Hits from the 60s, 70s & 80s starting at 9 on Houston Radio Platinum (get the app for the station in your App Store!) Then hang out for her evening seqment on the show called 'Late Night Spotlight'- intimate, unscripted interviews with guests from the entertainment industry, airing Monday through Friday at 10PM CT/11:00 ET 

Social media links, website and more here
Follow and subscribe here

Booth Announcer: Joe Szymans...

Studio session is all about the biography 'Have A Little Faith: The John Hiatt Story', and author Michael Elliott talks about researching and writing about the singer-songwriter's success and substance abuse; along with Hiatt's resilience and eventual recovery. Michael discusses his early days in radio; how working around music eventually brought him success in writing for online music magazines such as No Depression, Pop Matters and Albumism; and what it was like researching for his book with legendary Nashville artists Bill Lloyd and The Long Players. He also tells the true story of how he asked for - and received - a forward for his book from Elvis Costello; being a part of a writing panel at AmericanaFest with fellow music writers Holly George Warren and Marshall Chapman; plus how a book he read by The Who guitarist Pete Townshend inspired Michael to write his first book. Pull up a chair and join us in the studio for this special interview!

About the Spotlight Conversations podcast:

Tune in as I invite friends inside my cozy linoleum free recording studio to talk about all things media - radio, television, music, film, voiceovers, audiobooks, publishing - if guests are in the media spotlight, we're talking! Refreshingly unscripted and always entertaining, listen in as each guest gets real about their careers in the entertainment biz, from where they started to how it's going. So settle into my swanky studio where drinks are on ice and the conversation starters are music + media - always a deal breaker for the rock and roll homemaker! 

New episodes drop every other Tuesday. 

Listen to Donna every night as she shares her fave Classic Hits from the 60s, 70s & 80s starting at 9 on Houston Radio Platinum (get the app for the station in your App Store!) Then hang out for her evening seqment on the show called 'Late Night Spotlight'- intimate, unscripted interviews with guests from the entertainment industry, airing Monday through Friday at 10PM CT/11:00 ET 

Social media links, website and more here
Follow and subscribe here

Booth Announcer: Joe Szymans...

Versatile singer songwriter Kaya Black is in the studio today and we talk about the reggae music scene, recording music in Nashville and Jamaica, his family, his new single "Missing You" and more! Named after a Bob Marley album (and song), and musically inspired by both his mother and his father, entertainment photographer Johnny Black (who's photo credits include Bob Marley and Black Uhuru plus album covers for Ziggy Marley), Kaya also discusses what it was like to be one of the youngest concert goers at Reggae Sunsplash and how an Instagram post gave him an opportunity to work in the studio with Grammy award winning engineer Errol Brown, country music producer Tyler Cain and Kyle Cook, guitarist from Matchbox 20. Join us!

About the Spotlight Conversations podcast:

Tune in as I invite friends inside my cozy linoleum free recording studio to talk about all things media - radio, television, music, film, voiceovers, audiobooks, publishing - if guests are in the media spotlight, we're talking! Refreshingly unscripted and always entertaining, listen in as each guest gets real about their careers in the entertainment biz, from where they started to how it's going. So settle into my swanky studio where drinks are on ice and the conversation starters are music + media - always a deal breaker for the rock and roll homemaker! 

New episodes drop every other Tuesday. 

Listen to Donna every night as she shares her fave Classic Hits from the 60s, 70s & 80s starting at 9 on Houston Radio Platinum (get the app for the station in your App Store!) Then hang out for her evening seqment on the show called 'Late Night Spotlight'- intimate, unscripted interviews with guests from the entertainment industry, airing Monday through Friday at 10PM CT/11:00 ET 

Social media links, website and more here
Follow and subscribe here

Booth Announcer: Joe Szymans...

Today's show is about media, but also has a spiritual spin to it, as veteran radio broadcaster Stefan Rybak and I talk about his personal memoir "The Shadow On My Heart - Faith. Family. Forgiveness.",  a Top Ten Best Seller on Amazon. Stefan discusses his 40 years of success in radio, starting from his early days working at his hometown station in Waterbury, Connecticut  (where he was an intern for local radio personality Tom Collins, later known to millions in the entertainment industry as voiceover professional Joe Cipriano); his work ethic that stretched from On-Air Talent to Program Director to General Manager, as well as several years of nonstop partying which led to a serious health scare. Stefan also tells the story of his parents (his mom, captured by the Nazi's in Poland and forced to work as a slave laborer, and his dad, a POW in Germany during WWII); how prayer was the key to their survival and later for himself as he faced surgery to correct a previously undiagnosed congenital heart defect. Listen as he talks about literary agents, working hard for what you want, his take on "processing problems through spiritual perspective" and the three important goals he had for writing his current book. 

About the Spotlight Conversations podcast:

Tune in as I invite friends inside my cozy linoleum free recording studio to talk about all things media - radio, television, music, film, voiceovers, audiobooks, publishing - if guests are in the media spotlight, we're talking! Refreshingly unscripted and always entertaining, listen in as each guest gets real about their careers in the entertainment biz, from where they started to how it's going. So settle into my swanky studio where drinks are on ice and the conversation starters are music + media - always a deal breaker for the rock and roll homemaker! 

New episodes drop every other Tuesday. 

Listen to Donna every night as she shares her fave Classic Hits from the 60s, 70s & 80s starting at 9 on Houston Radio Platinum (get the app for the station in your App Store!) Then hang out for her evening seqment on the show called 'Late Night Spotlight'- intimate, unscripted interviews with guests from the entertainment industry, airing Monday through Friday at 10PM CT/11:00 ET 

Social media links, website and more here
Follow and subscribe here

Booth Announcer: Joe Szymans...

Visiting Raleigh, NC today with 94.7 QDR Country morning guy Mike Wheless - and yes, he has a lot of country music radio stories! Heading up the two time Country Music Association (CMA) and one time Academy of Country Music (ACM) awarded station (plus mixing in his 30 years in the broadcast biz) is no easy feat, but this radio personality makes it all so easy. The veteran broadcaster talks about the early days of his career (and how he was encouraged to pursue his radio dream from his dad); those memorable on-air moments at QDR with singers Luke Bryan and Ronnie Milsap; and equally memorable events like guitar playing with Keith Urban, stage performances with Toby Keith and more. We also discuss the traveling antics of his cat 'Shady Grady', the reason he's the husband who likes being the cook in the family and why some radio talent are really homebodies at heart. Kick back and tune in to hear the backstory from a legendary radio talent.

About the Spotlight Conversations podcast:

Tune in as I invite friends inside my cozy linoleum free recording studio to talk about all things media - radio, television, music, film, voiceovers, audiobooks, publishing - if guests are in the media spotlight, we're talking! Refreshingly unscripted and always entertaining, listen in as each guest gets real about their careers in the entertainment biz, from where they started to how it's going. So settle into my swanky studio where drinks are on ice and the conversation starters are music + media - always a deal breaker for the rock and roll homemaker! 

New episodes drop every other Tuesday. 

Listen to Donna every night as she shares her fave Classic Hits from the 60s, 70s & 80s starting at 9 on Houston Radio Platinum (get the app for the station in your App Store!) Then hang out for her evening seqment on the show called 'Late Night Spotlight'- intimate, unscripted interviews with guests from the entertainment industry, airing Monday through Friday at 10PM CT/11:00 ET 

Social media links, website and more here
Follow and subscribe here

Booth Announcer: Joe Szymans...

It's all about the world of voiceovers with voice actress Liz Fodor! The New York based performer, currently nominated for this year's One Voice Awards UK and the One Voice Awards USA, discusses everything from her background as a busy producer at Nickelodeon; dubbing her voice for character Poison Ivy in Harley Quinn: Blazing Shadows, to writing for Hobby Kids TV and more. She also talks about her love of painting, music (she trained as a violinist) and where she started her career as a voiceover actor. We also talk dialects and accents (she's got the British and Australian accent DOWN mate!) and gives some honest advice for anyone thinking about getting into today's ever growing voiceover business. Bring along your headphones and get into creative mode with the inside story from this versatile performer!

About the Spotlight Conversations podcast:

Tune in as I invite friends inside my cozy linoleum free recording studio to talk about all things media - radio, television, music, film, voiceovers, audiobooks, publishing - if guests are in the media spotlight, we're talking! Refreshingly unscripted and always entertaining, listen in as each guest gets real about their careers in the entertainment biz, from where they started to how it's going. So settle into my swanky studio where drinks are on ice and the conversation starters are music + media - always a deal breaker for the rock and roll homemaker! 

New episodes drop every other Tuesday. 

Listen to Donna every night as she shares her fave Classic Hits from the 60s, 70s & 80s starting at 9 on Houston Radio Platinum (get the app for the station in your App Store!) Then hang out for her evening seqment on the show called 'Late Night Spotlight'- intimate, unscripted interviews with guests from the entertainment industry, airing Monday through Friday at 10PM CT/11:00 ET 

Social media links, website and more here
Follow and subscribe here

Booth Announcer: Joe Szymans...

One of my fave places for original rock music is in North Carolina, and today I'm in the studio  with Jamie Hoover of The Spongetones! Jamie talks about the band's musical start in Charlotte (complete with the jangle pop riffs and their Beatlesque vocal style); to his current work in Nashville with Bill Lloyd (of Foster and Lloyd) and the rest of The Long Players. We also discuss nearly every reason why he loves the band XTC; The Spongetones getting that initial press from Rolling Stone magazine for albums Beat Music and Torn Apart; those days of touring with The Kinks and later with The Smithereens and Hootie & the Blowfish; and who really named his studio 'Hooverama'. It's a rock and roll cover story you don't want to miss!

About the Spotlight Conversations podcast:

Tune in as I invite friends inside my cozy linoleum free recording studio to talk about all things media - radio, television, music, film, voiceovers, audiobooks, publishing - if guests are in the media spotlight, we're talking! Refreshingly unscripted and always entertaining, listen in as each guest gets real about their careers in the entertainment biz, from where they started to how it's going. So settle into my swanky studio where drinks are on ice and the conversation starters are music + media - always a deal breaker for the rock and roll homemaker! 

New episodes drop every other Tuesday. 

Listen to Donna every night as she shares her fave Classic Hits from the 60s, 70s & 80s starting at 9 on Houston Radio Platinum (get the app for the station in your App Store!) Then hang out for her evening seqment on the show called 'Late Night Spotlight'- intimate, unscripted interviews with guests from the entertainment industry, airing Monday through Friday at 10PM CT/11:00 ET 

Social media links, website and more here
Follow and subscribe here

Booth Announcer: Joe Szymans...