The Danny and Park Novels Good News Podcast

Welcome back to the podcast, I’m Jamie Baynes. Today’s guest is Amukelani Makhuvela, an author from South Africa. I came across Amukelani’s Instagram page and decided to reach out to her to see if she’d be willing to be a guest on the podcast. She graciously agreed and we had a fantastic conversation. Take a listen to our chat and let me know what you think.

Make sure you check out her Instagram page: amumakhuvela

And......

Her book, Basket of Grief, on Amazon!

Welcome back to the podcast, I’m Jamie Baynes. Today’s guest is Christian Miles, a 14yr old up and coming actor from the Richmond area. Christian and I talk about how he came to be in the Youtube short film, The Poet, as a young Edgar Allan Poe. The film is due to be released Spring, 2022.

If you want to check out the Youtube channel with the director’s other work, head on over to Hollywood Graveyard on YouTube, but make sure you set a reminder on your calendar to catch The Poet!

And if you want to try out for some parts in Virginia, check out www.film.virginia.org

Welcome back to the podcast, I’m Jamie Baynes. Today’s guest is Richmond native and bestselling author, David L. Robbins. David helped found an organization that’s near and dear to my heart: Frontline Writers. As many of you know, I’m a retired Homicide detective as well as the author of two different fiction series, so is it any wonder why I love the idea of a group that helps and encourages frontline heroes write about their experiences?

David and the folks at Frontline Writers epitomize why I started this podcast. There’s so many good people in this world but it seems like we only get to hear about the people who aren’t so good. We need to turn that around and focus more on the positive things that people do and simply ignore the hatred and ignorance. The people at Frontline Writers know this and put it into practice everyday. 

If you’re a frontline worker from Virginia, or any other state, head over to the Frontline Writers website listed below and consider signing up for a class. And, as always, keep spreading the positivity.

Thanks for listening.

https://www.frontlinewriters.org

Welcome back to the podcast, I’m Jamie Baynes. Today’s guest is Chesterfield’s Commonwealth Attorney, Stacey Davenport. Stacey is the first female Commonwealth Attorney in Chesterfield County’s history and she got her start as a public defender with the City of Richmond. Stacey and I talk about why she became a lawyer, why she thought that she’d always be a criminal defense attorney and how she came to be Chesterfield’s Commonwealth Attorney. We cover a lot of ground in the interview, so let’s get started. I hope you enjoy the episode.

Welcome back to the podcast, I’m Jamie Baynes. Today’s guest is PJ Morrissey. I was working an off-duty job when a guy approached me and gave me a bead bracelet with a thin blue line color pattern. He told me about the special woman who made them and wrote down her website for me: emilysbracelets.com. I went to her website and was amazed at the number of bracelets this woman had designed. I sent an email and asked if Emily could come on the podcast. PJ responded and said that Emily doesn’t do well with interviews, but he’d love to come on and brag about his sister. Once you finish, let me know what you think of PJ and Emily.

 Also let me know what you think about  the fact that 80% of people like Emily can’t find work, despite having a skillset that is equal to or greater than people working the same job.

 The way Emily looks at people is the way we should all look at people: not judging others by the color of their skin, their gender, their religious beliefs or any of the other ways that people who claim to be leaders want us to look at each other. Emily looks at each person as a fellow human being clumped together with other human beings here on earth. Period. 

Make sure you check out Emily’s bio down below, and hit a few of the links PJ lists.  Then head over to Emily's  website and get yourself a bracelet or six. 

Remember, look out for one another, and ignore anyone who wants you to hate another human being simply because they’re different than you are.

Thanks for listening.

Emily's Bio:

Emily Morrissey is a young adult with Cerebral Palsy who has found her passion in making bracelets and spreading smiles! Emily's family members were concerned about what job she would have after high school, as the unfortunate reality of the situation is that 80% of individuals with disabilities are not active in the workforce. Ever since she was a little girl, Emily has been making special bracelets through occupational therapy to strengthen her fine motor skills. On October 1st, 2018, Emily's Bracelets was launched as an answer to her family's concerns. 

Here are some links:

https://www.specialolympicsva.org/

https://www.tablespoonsbakery.com/ (you can reach out to [email protected] and [email protected])

https://friendshipcircleva.org/

https://emilysbracelets.com

https://www.instagram.com/emily.s.bracelets/

https://www.facebook.com/emilymsbracelets

https://twitter.com/emilys_bracelet

Welcome back to the podcast, I’m Jamie Baynes. For today’s episode, I’ve invited back four past guests to talk about an issue that’s impacting the lives of people not only in Richmond, but nationwide: Black on Black crime. The panel and I talk about what they think is the root cause for it, what can be done to prevent it and why no one wants to talk about it openly. Listen to our discussion and let me know what you think, then give me some feedback on the following questions:

 Do you agree or disagree with what we talked about? Do you think it’s racist to even talk about Black on Black crime, and if so, why? Do you think it’s racist to say that all lives matter? Can Black people be racist or is racism reserved for white people only? 

Until we, as a society, can have open conversations about race and address real problems within the community, all we’re doing is just ignoring a catastrophic cycle of people being killed while some politicians and activists make excuses and promises that amount to nothing more than pandering for more power. It’s time to stop ignoring the problem and work together to find the solution. 

I’d like to thank Kim Drake, Nikki Bailey, Joe Fultz and Reggie Allen lefor coming back to the podcast and having the courage to talk about Black on Black crime and not mince words. I hope to have them all again.

Take care of one another and thanks for listening.

 Today’s guest is bestselling author and Richmond native, David L. Robbins. David’s first novel, War of the Rats,  was an incredible book about the battle of Stalingrad during World War ll. David went on from there to write another sixteen or seventeen books (he wasn’t sure the number when I asked him) and has ideas for even more books. He and I talk about how he became an author, how he goes all in when he researches locations for his novels and why Richmond is his favorite place to live. We pack a lot into this episode, so let’s get it started. 

When you're done with the podcast, make sure you check out David’s newest novel, Isaac’s Beacon, available anywhere you get your books.

As always, take care of each other and thanks for listening.

Todays’s guest is Mike Herring, the former Commonwealth Attorney for the City of Richmond. Mike did two stints as a prosecutor in the city. The first time as an assistant commonwealth attorney, specializing in drug prosecutions back in the early to mid-90’s, then as the elected Commonwealth Attorney, where he did nearly three terms before handing the reins over to Colette McEachin, who won her re-election bid recently. I’ve known Mike for years and am a huge fan. I hope you enjoy the interview.

Today’s guest is Charlottesville author and screenwriter Michael Cordell.  I was on Michael’s email list and he asked me to review a newly released novel he wrote: Our Trespasses. It sounded like an interesting read, so I checked it out on Amazon. Then I got the idea to email him back and see if he was interested in doing a podcast episode. He said that he was and here he is. Take a listen to our interview and let me know what you think.

 And make sure to check out Michael's author page on Amazon:

https://www.amazon.com/Michael-Cordell/e/B001KECNKU?ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_3&qid=1636107863&sr=8-3

Today’s guest is a longtime friend of mine, Betty Migliacco. Betty was born in Pennsylvania but moved to Richmond when she was seven years old and has been a city resident ever since. Betty and I talk about how we met, the jobs that she’s held and her current assignment with the Richmond Fire Department. Not to mention a life lesson or two.....Take a listen to her interview and let me know what you think.