A slight twist on the podcast today as I combine media and technology and chat with tech savvy Michael Farnum, Chief Techology Officer at Set Solutions, and the Founder/President of  HOU.SEC.CON, the Houston area information security conference. This IT pro talks Network Security (staying safe on line); what you can do about spam calls and emails; the ongoing relationship between media and technology; patching, multi-factor authenication, vulnerabilities and open source; plus the future of AI and voiceovers (this podcaster learned plenty in the interview - whew!) And for you media buffs, Michael dishes out which television dramas are tech accurate ('Mr. Robot' ) and which are sheer Hollywood; the double meaning of hackers; how he founded HOUSECCON, and why solving puzzles and picking locks may make you the next IT pro. So whether you're someone who knows all about tech, or if you're just learning about the computer scene, stay ahead of the game and  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 spotlight, we're talkin'! Refreshingly unscripted and unusually entertaining, listen in as each guest gets real about their careers in the entertainment biz, from where they started to how it's going. 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!

Listen to Donna every night starting at 9 on Houston Radio Platinum, along with a special program she hosts every Tuesday and Thursday night at 10 called 'Late Night Music Stories'.

Love the conversations? Follow @donnareedvo @spotlightconversations @rockandrollhomemaker

New episodes drop every Tuesday.

Social media links, website and more here
Follow and subscribe to my podcast here

Booth Announcer: Joe Szymanski ('Joe The Voice Guy')
Theme Song Composer: Mark Sparrow, SongBird Studios

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Radio personality and community advocate Irish Dave (Dave O'Connor) is in the studio this week, bringing along his lighthearted humor to stories about growing up and starting his broadcasting career in Dublin, Ireland to making the brave move to radio in the United States (South Bend Indiana no less, home of the Fighting Irish - true story!). The afternoon show host at WAOR talks about his American broadcasting career, from how writing a poem introduced him to legendary radio personality Paul 'Cubby' Bryant on WKTU in New York; and the backstory of Dave's second gig as a radio host for the Irish Music Show on WROL in Boston and the close community of listeners who join him each week. He then talks about his true passion: supporting non profit agencies around Indiana and children's charities, including Ryan's Place, Bashor Children's Home and his work with CASA as a Court Appointed Special Advocate. Funny and candid, it's an interview you don't want to miss. 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 spotlight, we're talkin'! Refreshingly unscripted and unusually entertaining, listen in as each guest gets real about their careers in the entertainment biz, from where they started to how it's going. 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!

Listen to Donna every night starting at 9 on Houston Radio Platinum, along with a special program she hosts every Tuesday and Thursday night at 10 called 'Late Night Music Stories'.

Love the conversations? Follow @donnareedvo @spotlightconversations @rockandrollhomemaker

New episodes drop every Tuesday.

Social media links, website and more here
Follow and subscribe to my podcast here

Booth Announcer: Joe Szymanski ('Joe The Voice Guy')
Theme Song Composer: Mark Sparrow, SongBird Studios

...

A holiday visit to North Carolina this week as I visit with Founder and Executive Director of Theatre In The Park Ira David Wood III. The beloved character actor, who for 48 years has played the part of 'Scrooge' for the theatre's musical production of 'A Christmas Carol' in Raleigh, talks about how his East Carolina roots combined with his love of reading Shakespeare and Dickens started his stage career. The actor and playwright who created his own unique musical/comedy production of a holiday classic, discusses the importance of honesty in acting, building audience trust and the fun of character development. He also talks about two of his children who followed him in their own careers: Emmy nominated actress Evan Rachel Wood (Westworld) and son Ira (Artistic Director for Theatre in the Park) and how they still reach out to dad for his creative advice. Bring along your love of the stage (and a mug of wassail!) and 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 spotlight, we're talkin'! Refreshingly unscripted and unusually entertaining, listen in as each guest gets real about their careers in the entertainment biz, from where they started to how it's going. 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!

Listen to Donna every night starting at 9 on Houston Radio Platinum, along with a special program she hosts every Tuesday and Thursday night at 10 called 'Late Night Music Stories'.

Love the conversations? Follow @donnareedvo @spotlightconversations @rockandrollhomemaker

New episodes drop every Tuesday.

Social media links, website and more here
Follow and subscribe to my podcast here

Booth Announcer: Joe Szymanski ('Joe The Voice Guy')
Theme Song Composer: Mark Sparrow, SongBird Studios

...

It's happening in Nashville this week as I interview musician Webb Wilder, the inspiration for the private eye character in the book 'Webb Wilder - Last Of The Full Grown Men" a book series with two stories in the series: "The Doll" and "Mole Men". We talk about the writers of the book, Steve Boyle and Shane Caldwell; Wilder's love of country and rock music (including his first band "The Drapes") and his film work ('The Thing Called Love' and 'Webb Wilder Private Eye') which aired on USA Network's Night Flight. The self proclaimed 'part Marlowe, part Gonzo' detective character in the book also discusses working as one of the first satellite DJ's in the US plus all about his new album Night Without Love (with cover art by legendary album artist Flournoy Holmes (Eat A Peach, The Allman Brothers Band). Drop in and tune in to this versatile performer talk about his storied music career!

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 spotlight, we're talkin'! Refreshingly unscripted and unusually entertaining, listen in as each guest gets real about their careers in the entertainment biz, from where they started to how it's going. 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!

Listen to Donna every night starting at 9 on Houston Radio Platinum, along with a special program she hosts every Tuesday and Thursday night at 10 called 'Late Night Music Stories'.

Love the conversations? Follow @donnareedvo @spotlightconversations @rockandrollhomemaker

New episodes drop every Tuesday.

Social media links, website and more here
Follow and subscribe to my podcast here

Booth Announcer: Joe Szymanski ('Joe The Voice Guy')
Theme Song Composer: Mark Sparrow, SongBird Studios

...

In the studio is journalist David Menconi, former music critic for the Raleigh News & Observer and the 2019 North Carolina Piedmont Laureate. The Texas born writer who's written features and profiles for the New York Times, Salon and SXSW World, discusses his new book "Step It Up and G0: The Story of North Carolina Popular Music, from Blind Boy Fuller and Doc Watson to Nina Simone and Superchunk" (winner of the 2021 North Caroliniana Society Book Award); his impressive CD collection (over 6,000) and vinyl collection (3,000); plus the backstory about writing with Ray Benson (Asleep at the Wheel) called "Comin' Right at Ya: How a Jewish Yankee Hippie Went Country, or, the Often Outrageous History of Asleep at the Wheel".  (With his penchant for long book titles, I did ask David if he ever worked as a headline editor somewhere during his journalism career!) We also talk about his popular blog post "Secret to a long life is knowing when it's time to go"; why he's still a fan of college radio, stories of Americana music, and plans for his next book. Bring along your love of music and listen in!

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 spotlight, we're talkin'! Refreshingly unscripted and unusually entertaining, listen in as each guest gets real about their careers in the entertainment biz, from where they started to how it's going. 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!

Listen to Donna every night starting at 9 on Houston Radio Platinum, along with a special program she hosts every Tuesday and Thursday night at 10 called 'Late Night Music Stories'.

Love the conversations? Follow @donnareedvo @spotlightconversations @rockandrollhomemaker

New episodes drop every Tuesday.

Social media links, website and more here
Follow and subscribe to my podcast here

Booth Announcer: Joe Szymanski ('Joe The Voice Guy')
Theme Song Composer: Mark Sparrow, SongBird Studios

...

He's back! My official booth announcer, voice talent Joe Szymanski is in the studio today to talk about the business of voiceovers, his family, fishing and carburetors (although not necessarily in that order - and yes, he is that versatile!) The veteran voiceover artist known as Joe The Voice Guy, discusses the changing world of voiceover, marketing your voice brand, auditions, voice style and more. He also talks about the importance of coaching (including his work with voice coach Elaine Craig), studio performance, audio demos, adapting to technology plus Artificial Intelligence (AI) and the future of voiceovers. Bring along those headphones and join in!

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 spotlight, we're talkin'! Refreshingly unscripted and unusually entertaining, listen in as each guest gets real about their careers in the entertainment biz, from where they started to how it's going. 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!

Listen to Donna every night starting at 9 on Houston Radio Platinum, along with a special program she hosts every Tuesday and Thursday night at 10 called 'Late Night Music Stories'.

Love the conversations? Follow @donnareedvo @spotlightconversations @rockandrollhomemaker

New episodes drop every Tuesday.

Social media links, website and more here
Follow and subscribe to my podcast here

Booth Announcer: Joe Szymanski ('Joe The Voice Guy')
Theme Song Composer: Mark Sparrow, SongBird Studios

...

Houston radio legend and entrepreneur Dayna Steele has done it all: written books, organized The Space Store for NASA, and rocked the airwaves of KLOL Rock 101 in Houston; she’s now taking on roles as Broadway producer, actor and more with her  play "The Woman in the Mirror" (based on her book) which will premiere in Houston the first two weeks in November.  Dayna's "dark uplifting comedy about surviving Alzheimer's with Friends, Facebook and a Really Big Glass of Wine" candidly tells about her mother's journey with Alzheimer's; how the writing of the play started, why she's stays organized, and names the directors, actors and writers she's brought in throughout the entire production. Could there also be a Tony in her future? Find out on my podcast!

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 spotlight, we're talkin'! Refreshingly unscripted and unusually entertaining, listen in as each guest gets real about their careers in the entertainment biz, from where they started to how it's going. 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!

Listen to Donna every night starting at 9 on Houston Radio Platinum, along with a special program she hosts every Tuesday and Thursday night at 10 called 'Late Night Music Stories'.

Love the conversations? Follow @donnareedvo @spotlightconversations @rockandrollhomemaker

New episodes drop every Tuesday.

Social media links, website and more here
Follow and subscribe to my podcast here

Booth Announcer: Joe Szymanski ('Joe The Voice Guy')
Theme Song Composer: Mark Sparrow, SongBird Studios

...

Bringing the studio to Oregon with the infamous 100.7 WMMS morning show host Jeff Kinzbach, who has taken his show on the road with wife Patti and trust me, they are loving every minute! The legendary broadcaster, who hosted the morning show with Ed 'Flash' Ferenc at The Buzzard for 20 years, resigned from radio, put a few things in storage, sold the house, and instead of buying a ticket to the west coast (um, cue Billy Joel song) decided to buy a motorhome and tour the country. But before we discuss road trips, we get in a little backstory about radio stories with infamous rock stars, how WMMS and the community of Cleveland built the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, how Cleveland came to be known as 'The Rock and Roll Capitol' and more. He also talks about how his daughter (who works for SpaceX in Los Angeles) was the inspiration for this new life on the road; why Patti is the navigator on their tour 'rockinNwheelin'; and no matter where he travels, why he will always be true to his Midwestern roots. Hop on the tour bus and 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 spotlight, we're talkin'! Refreshingly unscripted and unusually entertaining, listen in as each guest gets real about their careers in the entertainment biz, from where they started to how it's going. 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!

Listen to Donna every night starting at 9 on Houston Radio Platinum, along with a special program she hosts every Tuesday and Thursday night at 10 called 'Late Night Music Stories'.

Love the conversations? Follow @donnareedvo @spotlightconversations @rockandrollhomemaker

New episodes drop every Tuesday.

Social media links, website and more here
Follow and subscribe to my podcast here

Booth Announcer: Joe Szymanski ('Joe The Voice Guy')
Theme Song Composer: Mark Sparrow, SongBird Studios

...

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 spotlight, we're talkin'! Refreshingly unscripted and unusually entertaining, listen in as each guest gets real about their careers in the entertainment biz, from where they started to how it's going. 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!

Listen to Donna every night starting at 9 on Houston Radio Platinum, along with a special program she hosts every Tuesday and Thursday night at 10 called 'Late Night Music Stories'.

Love the conversations? Follow @donnareedvo @spotlightconversations @rockandrollhomemaker

New episodes drop every Tuesday.

Social media links, website and more here
Follow and subscribe to my podcast here

Booth Announcer: Joe Szymanski ('Joe The Voice Guy')
Theme Song Composer: Mark Sparrow, SongBird Studios

...

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 spotlight, we're talkin'! Refreshingly unscripted and unusually entertaining, listen in as each guest gets real about their careers in the entertainment biz, from where they started to how it's going. 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!

Listen to Donna every night starting at 9 on Houston Radio Platinum, along with a special program she hosts every Tuesday and Thursday night at 10 called 'Late Night Music Stories'.

Love the conversations? Follow @donnareedvo @spotlightconversations @rockandrollhomemaker

New episodes drop every Tuesday.

Social media links, website and more here
Follow and subscribe to my podcast here

Booth Announcer: Joe Szymanski ('Joe The Voice Guy')
Theme Song Composer: Mark Sparrow, SongBird Studios

...