Over the span of four years, one afternoon at a time, professional biographer Rhonda Lauritzen sat across from Heidi Posnien, now an 88-year-old woman who spent her childhood in the heart of Berlin, just a stone’s throw from Hitler’s seat of power. Posnien shared strikingly clear memories of the fear and uncertainty that permeated Nazi-infested Berlin during World War II as well as memories of her mother, Käthe, a rising star in Germany’s opera scene. But perhaps the most remarkable part of Posnien’s story is her survival in a bombed-out apartment during the final weeks of the war when she was just 9 years old. 

A Child in Berlin is the remarkable true story of Heidi Posnien, her mother and their courage in the face of Nazi terror as told to Lauritzen. Käthe is a mother who must choose between her conscience and her dreams of becoming an opera star. She discovers the truth about what is happening to her Jewish friends around the time she attends a dinner party presided by Adolf Hitler himself. She realizes she cannot remain among Nazi society and makes the gut-wrenching choice to leave the opera. To support herself and young Heidi, she joins Berlin’s black-market network and ends up dealing in more than just food. As others evacuate the capital, Käthe harbors a secret that anchors them in the epicenter of danger.

While Käthe becomes ever more preoccupied with survival, Heidi and a roving pack of friends make mischief in Berlin’s rubble. The war devolves, and she braves hunger, cold and feelings of abandonment as she shuttles between Berlin and the Polish countryside. Heidi’s ultimate test comes when she must survive alone in a bombed-out apartment during the final weeks of World War II. Her moxie shows how children are capable of far more than adults realize.

Heidi Posnien married an American soldier after the war. She now lives in Huntsville, Utah. Her story serves as a reminder of the resilience and strength of the human spirit, even in the darkest of times. Her firsthand account of life in Nazi-occupied Berlin offers a unique perspective on a pivotal moment in world history. As she nears her 90th birthday, Posnien continues to share her story in the hopes of educating future generations about the horrors of war and the importance of standing up against tyranny.

“I’ve been down in the deepest sorrows, but I’ve also been on the best of highs too,” Posnien said. “I’ve eaten this big, beautiful life; I never let it eat me.”

Austin C. Wright is the son of the late Jordan M. Wright & serves as Chairman of the Museum of Democracy. In this capacity, he has been able to share his father's ginormous collection with the world through the Museum & its national exhibitions. As Wright continues to grow his father’s collection, his emphasis is on ensuring it remains accessible to all, particularly the younger generations, to educate them about freedom & democracy & inspire them to engage in the political process.

The book he co-wrote with his father, CAMPAIGNING FOR PRESIDENT is a comprehensive look at 'campaign paraphernalia" through the ages. Nixon; Reagan; Obama; Biden; Trump; RFK JR. & Harris. It is NOT political. Austin's father started the process and after he passed, he continued.

In this fascinating interview we discuss:

*What motivated your father to begin collecting?

*When was the museum founded, and where were its objects displayed?

*What was it like growing up surrounded by all the memorabilia?

*Describe some of the most unique items in the collection.

*How were most items obtained?

*How did the situation with the LIU (Long Island University) collection display come about?

*Why do you believe this museum is of importance to the American public?

*What are the plans for the collection in 2024 and 2025

Sue Cameron has known, interviewed and befriended a plethora of Hollywood and Music A Listers.   In fact they are so famous, they would belong in an A+ list category if there was one. She has been a daily columnist & TV editor for The Hollywood Reporter, Hamptons & a Cosmo

contributor.   She is an original founder of Women in Film, an organization of 25,000 members.  Sue has written a riveting, just can’t put it down book called “Hollywood Secrets and Scandals: the truth behind stars closed doors.” 

Sue has been a consultant for various entertainment people like Teri Hatcher, Joely Fisher, Suzanne Somers, Valerie Harper, Carole King, Kim Novak, Debbie Reynolds and many others who don’t want their names revealed.  In her book’s

dedication, she mentions Kim Novak, Debbie Reynolds and Joan Rivers as MY

SUPREMES.   No other reporter has ever had her of access to celebrities. 

We discuss:

-Why so many of these A Listers allowed her so closely into their lives

-What was her motivation for writing such an intriguing, juicy book of 361 pages

-Do famous people regret being famous or do they mostly enjoy & embrace it? 

-Any that didn’t enjoy or couldn’t handle their fame? 

-She has written over 2,5000 columns & interviews reporting on Hollywood celebrities & social and political events.  Which interviews & stories stand out the

most?

-Jimi Hendrix.   The Mama Cass Ham Sandwich story.   Richard Simmons.    OJ Simpson.  

Sonny & Cher.   Wonder Woman Lynda Carter.  

Her blog, www.cameroncolumn.blogspot.com is widely read and generates attention

everywhere

Eddie Wilson is a businessman who is known as the “King of Exits.” He has owned over 125 companies and exited over 120 of them successfully. His current private equity firm Collective Influence has significant holdings as well. Of those holdings, the Private Equity firm owns – Think Realty, American Association of Private Lenders, Apticode, FitCon, Tax Free Crypto, Because Coffee, The Power Room, Money Is…and about 10 other companies.

 He is also known for creating an operating system that manages the growth of his companies systematically allowing him the greatest odds for success. His operating system is known as the Empire Operating System. With all of his success in his 40s he has turned his efforts to humanitarian non-profit activities with his foundation Impact Others. 

In this episode, you will learn:

-Exactly what an Exit Strategy means and why you absolutely have to have one when you start a business

 -How Eddie become so proficient in exit strategies to earn him the title of the King of Exits 

-How to grow and scale your business without working 7 days

 -Advice for new entrepreneurs. What are the musts they should do and what are the common pitfalls they should look to avoid?

 -How do you find the best employees and what traits do you look for when hiring?

-The Aspire Tour – How these new tours are taking the country by storm. Inspire your growth Financially, Professionally, Personally.  May 17 in Miami from 7 til 7pm.  Mr. Wonderful Kevin O’Leary, Marcus Lemonis from The Profit TV Show, Alex Rodriguez, Gary V and others. July 20 at Madison Square Garden in New York City.

Bob Burg has been successfully showing entrepreneurs, leaders, & sales pros for over 30 yrs, how to build relationships, communicate their value, & accelerate their business growth as one of the top Sales and Entrepreneur trainers in the world.  Though for years he was best known for his sales classic, Endless Referrals, it’s his business parable he co-authored, The Go-Giver, that has created a worldwide movement.  While part of a four-book series, The Go-Giver itself has sold well over a million copies & been translated into 30 languages. It was rated #10 on Inc. Magazine’s list of The Most Motivational Books Ever Written, & was on HubSpot’s 20 Most Highly Rated Sales Books of All Time. 

An advocate, supporter, & defender of the Free Enterprise system, Bob believes that the amount of money one makes is directly proportional to how many people they serve.

In this interview, hear about:

-Most people just laugh when they hear that the secret to success is giving…Then again, most people are nowhere near as successful as they wish they were.” 

-Examples of what a salesperson or entrepreneur can give a prospective client

-Change focus from getting to giving...putting others interests first & adding value to their lives ultimately leads to unexpected returns. Give & You Shall Receive.” 

-“Don’t give as a quid pro quo, not as a strategy to get ahead, but because it is, in & of itself, a satisfying & fulfilling way to be.”

-Five Laws of Stratospheric Success.

-How do you turn a Cold Call into a Warm Call?

-How can you have business organically flow to you instead of always trying to push, persuade, cajole, hype or any other artificial way of making a sale?

-How do you deal with the prospect you know is your perfect client, but just won’t give you the time of day.  They don’t return your email, phone calls or texts.

-One golden nugget of advice from a “drive-by mentor” totally shifted Bob’s perspective and played a big role in his success.

-One thing to absolutely AVOID doing when seeking out a mentor. 

-What’s the best way to find a mentor?

-Why being a “Go-Giver” is absolutely congruent with — and even honors — human nature.   

Nigel Holland is a founder of the world class band Evil Woman “The American ELO.” The Electric Light Orchestra, known around the world as the “Premier Orchestral Rock & Roll Band," pumped out many great hits in the 1970’s like Can't Get It Out of My Head, Strange Magic & Evil Woman. There was no other band quite like them. They combined the beat of disco thumpers, outlandish space-age iconography, triumphant classical orchestral arrangements, and gentle, intricate harmonies influenced by the Beatles.

In this podcast, Nigel discusses:

Masood Boomgaard is an internationally renowned comedian who is probably your favorite alternative life coach also known by his alter ego “Self-Help Singh.”   The comedian, & (de)motivational speaker and parody expert discovered his inner alter ego when as rumor has it, he fell & hit his head as he rushed to the toilet after some bad lamb vindaloo. 

In this interview, Boomgaard provides simple, yet "common sense wisdom" on how to get your life together...without mincing words...and beware...some of those words are blue.

Boomgard describes his Self-help Singh alter ego, who has been enjoyed by millions on the internet, as a comedic alternative life coach and de-motivational speaker.

Now, Self-help Singh is LIVE with a hilarious and thought-provoking juxtaposition of stand-up comedy, parody & motivational speaking. This event contains adult content.  Masood Boomgaard Presents: Self-Help Singh Live in the Abdo New River Room at the Broward Center in Fort Lauderdale as part of the TRUIST Comedy Series on Friday, February 9 at 7 p.m.

Ticketmaster is the only official ticketing service of the Broward Center & The Parker. Buy tickets online at BrowardCenter.org, or Ticketmaster.com; by phone at 954.462.0222; in person at the Broward Center’s AutoNation Box Office.  The Broward Center for the Performing Arts is located at 201 SW Fifth Ave. in Fort Lauderdale.

Self-help Singh is the alter ego of international comedian

Masood Boomgaard. Self-help Singh, described as a comedic

alternative life coach and de-motivational speaker, first

appeared to Boomgaard in a vision after he fell and hit his head

while rushing to the bathroom in an attempt to outrun the

gastric consequences of bad lamb vindaloo.

Boomgaard has since been sharing the "common sense

wisdom" and de-motivational teachings of Self-help Singh to

millions of people on the internet.

The Self-help Singh live show is a hilarious yet thought

provoking juxtaposition of stand-up comedy, parody and

motivational speaking.

Boomgaard lives in South Africa with his cat...for now 

BRUCE SUSSMAN received the 2022 Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Book of a Musical for the Broadway show Harmony.

With Jack Feldman, he co-authored the scores for Ted Tally’s Coming Attractions (Outer Critics Circle Award) and Wendy Wasserstein’s first musical, Miami, both produced by André Bishop at Playwrights Horizons. He also co-authored the score and book for Copacabana: The Musical, (Olivier Award nominee).

His half century-long collaboration with Barry Manilow has produced over 200 songs that have been featured in numerous films & have been recorded by an array of artists, earning Grammy Awards & multiple Gold & Platinum records.

We discuss: 

What is it like collaborating with Barry Manilow and how did that all unfold?

When did you first get the desire to write, score & produce music?  Who & what were your inspirations?

Does writing the book for a show & scoring the music come naturally to you?  What are the easy parts, what are the hard parts and what does it take to get it all done to your exacting standards?

Is there a secret to your success?   What advice would you offer someone else who needs a better roadmap to reach the same pinnacle of success that you have?

The show’s slogan is that HARMONY tells the extraordinary true story of the greatest entertainers the world would ever forget.  There were 6 Comedian Harmonists.   What made them so beloved at the time and why were they forgotten?

What does the Broadway musical Harmony mean to you and can you tell our listeners exactly your role in the show is as the maestro behind the book and lyrics and also Barry Manilow’s role with his original score in the show?

What would you like audiences to take away from the intended meaning & message of the show  & how you would like to see them feeling during & after the show?

How long did it take for Harmony to get to Broadway & why the long and winding road that finally landed the show there. 

What are you most proud of?  Anything you would change?

Judy Collins has inspired audiences with sublime vocals, boldly vulnerable songwriting, personal life triumphs, & a firm commitment to social activism. In the 1960s, she evoked both the idealism & steely determination of a generation united against social and environmental injustices. Six decades later, her luminescent presence shines brightly as new generations bask in the glow of her iconic 55-album body of work, & heed inspiration from her spiritual discipline to thrive in the music industry for half a century.

The award-winning singer-songwriter is esteemed for her imaginative interpretations of traditional and contemporary folk standards & her own poetically poignant original compositions. Her stunning rendition of Joni Mitchell's “Both Sides Now” from her landmark 1967 album, Wildflowers, has been entered into the Grammy Hall of Fame. Judy’s dreamy and sweetly intimate version of “Send in the Clowns,” a ballad written by Stephen Sondheim for the Broadway musical A Little Night Music, won "Song of the Year” at the 1975 Grammy Awards. She’s garnered several top-ten hits gold- and platinum-selling albums. Recently, contemporary & classic artists such as Rufus Wainwright, Shawn Colvin, Dolly Parton, Joan Baez, and Leonard Cohen honored her legacy with the album Born to the Breed: A Tribute to Judy Collins.

Judy began her impressive music career at 13 as a piano prodigy dazzling audiences performing Mozart's “Concerto for Two Pianos,” but the hard luck tales & rugged sensitivity of folk revival music by artists such as Woody Guthrie and Pete Seeger seduced her away from a life as a concert pianist. Her path pointed to a lifelong love affair with the guitar & pursuit of emotional truth in lyrics. The focus and regimented practice of classical music, however, would be a source of strength to her inner core as she navigated the highs and lows of the music business.

Jessica Vosk is one of Broadway's HOTTEST, surging STARS who played Elphaba in WICKED for 2 years & also appeared in Fiddler on the Roof as well as in Finding Neverland & The Bridges of Madison County.

This celebrated singer & actress performs all over the US including at The Broadway Concert Series at Broward Center’s Parker Playhouse in Ft. Laud. FL on Jan. 21, 2024 at 7pm which even I don’t want to miss as I plan to attend. After this interview, I know you will want to join me. Here's what Jessica discusses:

-What was it like growing up? Did she always want to be a singer & actress and what gave her the inspiration to be a performer?

-Who inspired her and continues to inspire her?

-How she get such a plum role like Elphaba and how may people did she compete with for the part?

-What does performing do for her? What brings her the most joy in performing?

-Do she ever experience fear or jitters and if so, how does she handle and overcome it?

-What would be her dream performing role or scenario?

-Her sold out Carnegie Hall debut in Nov. 2021 and her second sold-out show Get Happy: A Judy Garland Centennial Celebration in Dec 2022.

Jessica takes center stage at The Parker on Sun, Jan. 21 at 7 pm accompanied by Grammy- and Emmy Award-winner John McDaniel, who was seen leading the band on the Rosie O'Donnell show for its entire six year run. I am already sold & I am super excited but what is the rest of the potential audience in store for? What should we expect?

Buy tickets online at ParkerPlayhouse.com and Ticketmaster.com; by phone at 954.462.0222; and in person at the Broward Center’s AutoNation Box Office.

Hang in on the interview til the end when Jessica gifts us with an a cappella verse of one of her favorite songs!!!