The ALL NEW Big Wakeup Call with Ryan Gatenby

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Aida Salazar chats with Ryan about her new book Ultraviolet.

Aida Salazar is an award-winning author and arts activist whose writings for adults and children explore issues of identity and social justice. She is the author of the middle-grade verse novels The Moon Within (International Latino Book Award Winner), Land of the Cranes (Américas Award Winner), the picture book anthology, In the Spirit of a Dream, and the picture book biography Jovita Wore Pants: The Story of a Mexican Freedom Fighter (International Latino Book Award Winner). She is a founding member of Las Musas, a Latinx kidlit debut author collective. Her short story "By the Light of the Moon" was adapted into a ballet production by the Sonoma Conservatory of Dance and is the first Xicana-themed ballet in history. She lives with her family of artists in Oakland, California.

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Chantal Nchako visited the show for a fun and lively chat about her childhood growing up in Cameroon, her early career, current project Diarra From Detroit, now airing on BET+, and working with the incredible Eddie Murphy in her upcoming role in the much-anticipated Beverly Hills Cop: Alex F, premiering on Netflix July 3rd.


Chantal Nchako is a French West African actress. Her multicultural and global experiences are instrumental in her work as an actor and humanitarian. Raised in Douala, Cameroon, her adaptability and captivating stage and screen presence are a fusion of her international heritage.

She developed a strong sense of poise and confidence from her cultures, spiritual background, travels, and strong family ties around the world. She is an ardent athlete and loves to ride horses to Liberate her positive flow of energy. Chantal’s diverse training, experience and professionalism as an actor gained her standout roles in Off-Broadway plays, TV and films. Her work has garnered her rave reviews and interviews in leading newspapers and industry journals, including the Huffington Post, Broadway World, Backstage and New York Theatre. Chantal is fluent in French, Italian and the Bamileke dialect from her native home in Bangoulap.

She studied Shakespeare at the British American Drama Academy at Oxford University with the Great John Barton, earned her BFA at Howard University and her MFA at the University of Southern California School of Dramatic Arts (U.S.C). While at U.S.C she was the first recipient of the Robert Plumleigh Scholarship and also the recipient of the Ava Greenwald Memorial Scholarship for Outstanding MFA Actor. At U.S.C. Chantal was amongst the first MFA students to be accepted and cast in the professional training program at the prestigious Williamstown Theater Festival, the Tony Award Winning resident summer theatre. She played the lead role, Ella, in Sam Shepard’s play. Curse of the Starving Class, directed by Jason Mc Dowell-Green.

At U.S.C, Chantal spearheaded the initiative to diversify the MFA repertory, resulting in the production of the first black play, Twilight Los Angeles 1992. written by Anna Devere Smith. After this successful initiative, Chantal set into motion the plan to teach August Wilson classes in the U.S.C. MFA program: introducing Ruben Santiago Hudson and Michele Shay to help sustain the diversity initiative. During 2020, to support U.S.C’s advocacy of Black Lives Matter, Chantal opened up the dialogue for a town hall discussion. The dialogue defined the inclusion process as an ongoing university priority, bringing together a wide range of stakeholders, including MFA alumni, current students, faculty and university leadership to add balance to the process.

Chantal is a resident faculty member at Silva Arte e Danza musical theatre academy in Siracusa, Sicily and the founder and designer of Choobiz, a luxury shoe line made in Italy.

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It was fun re-living childhood memories of action figures and local UHF TV programming with Brad Balukjian as we chatted about his new book THE SIX PACK: On the Road in Search of WrestleMania. 

Brad Balukjian  has chosen two careers – journalist and scientist
– which converge on pursuit of the truth. He has been published in Rolling Stone,
Smithsonian, National Geographic, and many others. His first book, The Wax Pack: On
the Open Road in Search of Baseball’s Afterlife, hit #7 on the LA Times bestseller list and was named one of NPR’s Best Books of 2020. He is a Research Associate at the California Academy of Sciences, and he discovered 17 species of insects (green flash bugs) in Tahiti, one of which he named after Harrison Ford. He lives on the road, where he’s in an open relationship with his VCR.

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It's always fun when we have a returning guest, and after talking about weirdness in the Middle Ages last time, we discussed weirdness in the U.S. Government with his book WEIRD BUT TRUE!  KNOW IT ALL: US GOVERNMENT.

Michael Burgan is a historian specializing in writing biographies and current events for younger audiences. His published works include Who Was Henry Ford?, Who Was Theodore Roosevelt?, Breaker Boys: How a Photograph Helped End Child Labor, The Creation of the U.S. Constitution, and Weird But True Know-It-All: Middle Ages. Additionally, Burgan is also a playwright and studied at the University of Connecticut.

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Joey Angelo, a liquor industry entrepreneur, launched products such as VIVA XXXII Tequila; MARGS – the canned margarita beverage; and Su Casa Mezcal – which, in less than a year after its launch, is now one of the top-selling brands in the mezcal category. Outside of the liquor industry, Joey Angelo was a seed investor in the celebrity fitness concept Rumble Boxing and played a key role in its launch prior to its sale to Xponential in a deal valued at more than $300 million. 

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Joe Yogerst returned to the show for a fun chat about his new book 50 States, 1000 Eats: Where to Go, When to Go, What to Eat, What to Drink .

During more than three decades as an editor, writer, photographer, and speaker, Joe Yogerst has lived and worked in Asia, Africa, Europe, and North America. His writing has appeared in Conde Nast Traveler, CNN Travel, Islands magazine, the International New York Times (Paris), Washington Post, Los Angeles Times, Forbes Travel and National Geographic Digital. He has also worked on more than 40 National Geographic books, including the bestselling 50 States, 5,000 Ideas. Joe is a California native and now lives in San Diego.

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Affectionally dubbed the “octopus whisperer”, acclaimed author SY MONTGOMERY, returns to the species she knows and loves, offering current and compassionate stories about the scientists on the front lines of octopus research and conservation.  

 In SECRETS OF THE OCTOPUS, Montgomery, dives deep into the extraordinary life of one of nature's most intelligent and complex animals. Enhanced with breathtaking National Geographic photography, the book offers a captivating journey into the underwater world of the octopus. Often likened to alien lifeforms, these creatures exhibit remarkable intelligence and adaptability.

 Montgomery's narrative takes us closer than ever to understanding the octopus, revealing groundbreaking insights into how their large brains are distributed throughout their bodies, as well as their unique ability to alter their genetic makeup in response to environmental challenges. Known for their unparalleled camouflage skills you will see breathtaking photography showing them changing shape and color. It also delves into the touching dedication of octopus mothers to their offspring.

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While Eric Cogorno is best known for the golf lessons he gives to more than 400,000 subscribers on his YouTube channel and Instagram, he’s actually spent nearly 20 years building a reputation as a highly respected Performance Golf Coach.  He intuitively combines the art and science of golf to teach to each individual student (seemingly) simple strategies that lead to cutting handicaps in half and significantly improving performance for golfers of all levels. 

Since 2018, Eric Cogorno has taken his business from $80K a year teaching one-on-one lessons by the hour in Bethlehem, PA, to a multimillion dollar, global golf instruction brand using these same skills and strategies. In the process, he was able to also transform his entire professional and personal lifestyle as well as the golf of hundreds of thousands of people. 

 As a successful entrepreneur and personal development enthusiast, Eric is on a mission to help people understand the profound value of goal setting, help them get clear about their goals and provide tactical strategies for them to achieve those goals.

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From October 27, 2021: Anthony DeCurtis called in for a fun and lively discussion of his book THE ROLLING STONES: UNZIPPED.

 For almost 60 years The Rolling Stones have helped shape popular culture around the world. The Rolling Stones: Unzipped traces their impact and influence on rock music, art, design, fashion, photography, and filmmaking. Packed with evocative archival photos, artworks, outtakes, and memorabilia, this stunning visual history immerses readers in the world of the Stones. Peppered throughout with insightful new commentary by Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, Charlie Watts, and Ronnie Wood, this volume also features an incisive introduction by writer and music critic Anthony De Curtis, as well as interviews with Buddy Guy (on the roots of the Stones' music), Don Was (on the band's working method in the studio), Anna Sui and John Varvatos (on the evolution of the band's style), Martin Scorsese (on the band's filmed performances and videos), Shephard Fairey (on the band's art and design), and Patrick Woodroffe and Willie Williams (on the band's live shows).

In addition to stills from films, videos, and documentary footage, vivid photographic sections showcase the Stones' musical instruments, their stage clothing, album cover designs, notebooks with lyrics, and tape boxes from the original recording sessions. A bold and captivating record of the "greatest rock 'n' roll band in the world," The Rolling Stones: Unzipped accompanies a blockbuster touring exhibition of the same name, scheduled to open next in late November 2021 outside Toronto, Canada.

Anthony DeCurtis is an author and music critic. He has written for the New York Times, Relix, and Rolling Stone, for which he is a contributing editor.

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From September 17, 2017: Jorma Kaukonen, founding member of Jefferson Airplane and Hot Tuna, talked about his career and his memoir Been So Long.

ABOUT JORMA KAUKONEN

As a founding member of two legendary bands, Jefferson Airplane and the still-touring Hot Tuna, Jorma Kaukonen has achieved incredible success. A member of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and a Grammy recipient, Kaukonen has played with many well-known and historic musicians, including his contemporaries Jerry Garcia, Janis Joplin and Bob Dylan. For the first time, he is sharing his story in BEEN SO LONG: My Life and Music. The book will also include an exclusive five track companion album. The tracks include live recordings of "Been So Long," "Song for the High Mountain," "Broken Highway," "River of Time," and "In My Dreams."

With a foreword by Grace Slick and an afterword by bandmate Jack Casady, BEEN SO LONG is an intimate portrait of an artist who was at the forefront of Psychedelic Rock and has since become one of the most highly respected interpreters of American roots music, blues, and Americana. Kaukonen's memoir reveals the stories behind the songs, lessons from a life in the music industry, and his reflections on a remarkable decades-long career.

BEEN SO LONG charts not only Jorma's association with the bands that made him famous but goes into never-before-told details about his addiction and recovery, his troubled first marriage and still-thriving second, the creation of the Fur Peace Ranch Guitar Camp, which he operates with his wife, Vanessa, and more. Interspersed with diary entries, personal correspondence, and song lyrics, this memoir is as unforgettable and inspiring as Jorma's music itself.