This episode was originally posted May 17, 2024. We are reposing this episode to ensure it is available on all platforms.

Michael O'Leary is an Emmy-nominated actor who spent more than 20 years portraying Dr. Rick Bauer on Guiding Light. O'Leary was the Grand Marshal of the 2019 International Cherry Blossom Festival parade in Macon, Georgia. In October 2023, O'Leary brought his play Breathing Under Dirt to Macon for a premiere staged reading.

This episode was originally posted June 3, 2024. We are reposing this episode to ensure it is available on all platforms.

Dr. Ilyon Woo is the 2024 Pulitzer Prize Award-winning and New York Times best-selling author of Master Slave Husband Wife: An Epic Journey from Slavery to Freedom. The book chronicles the epic journey to freedom taken in 1848 by an enslaved, married couple, Ellen and William Craft. Master Slave Husband Wife: An Epic Journey from Slavery to Freedom was honored as one of the best books of 2023 by the New York Times, People Magazine, Smithsonian and was recognized by Oprah Daily as one of the "Best Conversation-Starting Books of 2023."

Episode photo credit: Michael Wilson

Matt Chamberlin started in the film industry as Jerry Bruckheimer's personal assistant. He joined the locations world after that, and has worked on productions like A Man in Full, Will Trent, Goosebumps 2: Haunted Halloween, Sleepy Hollow, Sully, Collateral, Must Love Dogs, Spider-Man 3, and Modern Family. His work on Zombieland: Double Tap, Hillbilly Elegy, and The First Lady brought him to Macon.

We discuss filming in Macon, how films and television shows find locations, the process for picking those locations, and how properties can make themselves available.

Macon-native Grey Henson is an actor, dancer and singer. He originated the role of Damian Hubbard in the Broadway production of Mean Girls, a role that earned him a nomination for a 2018 Tony Award for Best Actor in a Featured Role in a Musical. He has also played Elder McKinley in both the Broadway and U.S. National Touring productions of The Book of Mormon.

Henson started acting and dancing as a young child in Macon at Macon Little Theatre, Theatre Macon, and Madison's School of Dance. He graduated from Carnegie Mellon University.

Henson has played roles in other theatre productions like Shucked and tick, tick...BOOM! He also played Tate in the series Girls5eva.

Photo Credit: Playbill

We're changing the format up a little bit this week. Food is essential, and when people travel, local restaurants are a great way for them to get to know the community they're visiting. In order to highlight some of the great places in Macon to eat, I invited my buddies Charles Davis and Spencer Hawkins in to fantasy draft Macon restaurants.

We talked about BBQ restaurants, fine dining options, places for quick eats, desserts and even threw in a couple of wild card selections. This is by no means a comprehensive list, and is not intended to exclude anyone we didn't discuss. We could have talked for several more hours about all the great places to eat here in Macon.

For information about the places we talked about, and for information about all of Macon's eateries, check out www.visitmacon.org. You can also find videos featuring some of these, and other great Macon restaurants, at the Visit Macon YouTube page here: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL_-q26YUIzokbcsO09XD_zI0aX0lHmUdk&si=DyFlX7R0fNkrSX3I

Let us know what you think of our selections and other categories you'd like us to draft in the future!

Lisa Love is a Macon and Georgia music historian, expert, and fan. Her career has involved work with the Georgia Music Hall of Fame, Georgia Department of Economic Development, and Georgia Music Foundation. Lisa helped create the Macon Music Revue and is working to preserve the state's music history, provide opportunities for students to participate in music education, and promote Georgia's music communities.

Steve Moretti is the co-founder, President and CEO of the Macon Pops. He is also a drummer/percussionist and producer. Moretti is a two-time Grammy Award nominee, Juno nominee and Telly Award winner. Moretti appears in the 2014 Clint Eastwood Film "Jersey Boys."

Macon Pops has been entertaining Macon (and beyond) for more than 10 years with concerts that feature music by artists well-known to audiences. The upcoming Macon Pops season will showcase music from The Beatles, Stevie Wonder, Funk hits, and sing-alongs. The Macon Pops also provides the soundtrack to the award-winning Macon Christmas Light Extravaganza.

More information about Steve can be found at www.stevemoretti.com and information about the Macon Pops is available at www.maconpops.com.

Episode photo credit: Maryann Bates

Justin Andrews, grandson of the legendary Otis Redding, is Director of Special Projects and Outreach at the Otis Redding Foundation. Justin's work with the Foundation focuses on event planning, leading student activities and camps, creating the Foundation's Otis Redding branded merchandise.

Justin talks about his grandfather's legacy, the Foundation's camps, and the music industry.

More information about the Otis Redding Foundation can be found at https://www.otisreddingfoundation.org/

Seth Clark is Executive Director of Ocmulgee National Park & Preserve Initiative (ONPPI) and Mayor Pro Tem of Macon-Bibb County. The conversation includes information about the plans to make the Ocmulgee Mounds National Historical Park the nation's newest National Park.

More information about that effort is available at www.ocmulgeepark.org

Bell Biv DeVoe and Toad the Wet Sprocket have shows coming up in Macon! This episode features both Ricky Bell from BBD and Dean Dinning from Toad. We have wide-ranging conversations about their shows, the bands' histories, and even basketball. Bell Biv DeVoe will be in Macon on July 20, and Toad the Wet Sprocket (along with Barenaked Ladies) will be here October 25.

More information about these shows, and many others, can be found at www.maconcentreplex.org.