The Motivation Show

Ramon Hervey II has earned global recognition as a highly regarded entertainment manager, brand consultant & publicist who has represented Richard Pryor, Bette Midler, Paul McCartney, the Bee Gees, Muhammad Ali, Caitlyn Jenner, Quincy Jones, Vanessa Williams, The Commodores with Lionel Richie, the Jacksons with Michael Jackson and a whole lot more A Listers. He is the author of the book...The Fame Game: An Insider’s Playbook for Earning Your 15 minutes.

After having invested 4 decades in playing the fame game, Ramon reveals:

-Why he calls fame a "game" and why he choose that word for his book title.

-That there is no sure way to become famous and just like in any game, there is no guarantee. Fame is unpredictable.

-What percentage of people in the world are famous? (hint: less than 1%).

-Fame and Success don't come with a warranty

-Does luck play a role in success and fame?

-The pursuit of fame...is it a worthy, positive goal?

-Can you understand fame before you become famous?

-Why did Richard Pryor, at the height of his fame, attempt suicide & what was the famous incident which almost killed him that he later confessed to as a suicide attempt? 

-Why all famous people reach a lull in their fame and have to reinvent their career

-Why everybody is not suited for fame

-His crisis management for his ex-wife, Miss America pageant winner Vanessa Williams (who famously posed for Penthouse)

-The chapter in his book: Fame Begets Fame - The More You Get, The Harder It is to Manage

-What he is most proud of

Jairek Robbins is the son of legendary Motivational Speaker Tony Robbins. He is a decorated human performance coach & speaker to world class companies & organizations.  He is the best selling Author of 𝐋𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐈𝐭: 𝐀𝐜𝐡𝐢𝐞𝐯𝐞 𝐒𝐮𝐜𝐜𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐁𝐲 𝐋𝐢𝐯𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐖𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐏𝐮𝐫𝐩𝐨𝐬𝐞 which received rave reviews from Deepak Chopra, Brian Tracy & other self improvement titans. The practical tools he shares in “LIVE IT!” can help anyone add deep meaning & purpose to their life while achieving MASSIVE SUCCESS.  His philosophy is LEARN IT - LIVE IT - GIVE IT. Learn what it takes to be successful. Live it fully in your own life. Then, give it to others to help them do the same."  

In this exclusive interview Jairek reveals:

-How he survived a diagnosis of having 5 or 6 days to live before the age of 20.

-The first mountain we climb is what we can GET from life.  The second is what we can GIVE to life.  

-The lessons from both sides of his parents: Living in a one or two bedroom apt. with mom. vs. Dad living in a castle.  

-How he viewed his mom as wildly abundant in how she helped and cared about other people and despite her lack of financial abundance.

-How he accelerates people's experience of getting what they want.

-Having a vision. What are you most curious about? What would you want to have a personal PHD understanding of in life? 

-How Breaking your Day into 24 Hours at a time and focusing on one perfect day at a time, rather than being overwhelmed.  

-How to Create a new Habit.  You never stop a habit. You only replace a habit. Choose a healthier habit.  

-Every person you meet is both a warning and an example. If you hang around with someone long enough, they will eventually present a warning of what not to do. They will also present something positive which will set an example.  Learn from each person you come across.  

Few people knew John Lennon as intimately as May Pang. Pang was Lennon’s lover during the infamous “Lost Weekend” which lasted 18 months during late 1973 through 1975. 

In this exclusive interview, we learn about their relationship and the kind of person John Lennon really was.

During this highly creative time for Lennon, Pang took candid photos of Lennon in a comfortable, relaxed environment. A collection of these private photographs will be on display in various cities, including at City Winery in NYC this Sat April 8 and Sun April 9. The exhibition entitled, “The Lost Weekend – The Photography of May Pang” coincides with the feature film documentary “The Lost Weekend : A Love Story” that premieres in theaters beginning April 13th. Admission to the exhibit is free to the public and all works are available to purchase. Advance tickets to the film premiere screening are on sale now at: https://www.thelostweekendtickets.com/?campaign=IconicYT. Watch the trailer here: https://youtu.be/6v07NzukoZU.

May Pang will be in attendance at City Winery NYC and signing copies of her fine art photographs for customers. On Sunday, the fabulous Beatles band “Strawberry Fields” will be performing their weekly Ultimate Beatles Brunch concert at noon (admission required, tickets available at https://citywinery.com/NewYork/Online/Article/new-york-strawberry-fields-lp-2023.)

Billed as “a weekend that lasted 18 months and a love story that took 50 years to tell”, THE LOST WEEKEND: A LOVE STORY (from Iconic Releasing) explores the 18-month relationship (1973-1975) that John Lennon spent with May Pang, his Chinese American assistant turned lover (on Yoko Ono’s insistence and which she came to regret). With May's help, he had his most artistically and commercially productive period post-Beatles—with the albums "Mind Games", "Walls and Bridges", which included his only #1 Hit Single "Whatever Gets You Through the Night", "Rock and Roll" and collaboration with Rock legends Elton John, David Bowie, Harry Nilsson, Mick Jagger, and Ringo among others. Also, on that album Pang can be heard on the song “#9 Dream” where she whispers John’s name in the song. Another song on the album “Surprise, Surprise (Sweet Bird of Paradox)” was written about Pang. Pang chronicles it all revisiting her younger self, as a naïve 22-year-old experiencing her first unforgettable love.

Pang also encouraged Lennon to reconnect with his family and his friends, which ultimately led to a reunion with Paul McCartney and a memorable jam session between the two Beatles. Pang also arranged for Julian Lennon to visit his father for the first time in almost three years. One of Pang’s photographs of Julian Lennon graces the cover of Julian’s latest album entitled “Jude.” 

Lennon also went into the studio with friend Harry Nilsson during this time and produced his album “Pussy Cats.” It was during this time that Pang rented a house in Santa Monica and moved in with Lennon and fellow partiers Ringo Starr, Keith Moon (The Who) and Harry Nilsson. Several photos from this time also appear in the exhibition. 

“The Lost Weekend – The Photography of May Pang” exhibition will provide fans a rare opportunity to see John Lennon in a new light, through the lens of someone who knew him intimately during one of the most creative periods of his life. Pang’s photos will be on display and available to purchase for two days only. Check out the show and meet May Pang at City Winery NYC, 25 11th Avenue (at 15th Street), New York, NY for two days only, Saturday, April 8 and Sunday, April 9, 2023.

Sam Ron bears personal witness to the greatest atrocity in human history. As of March 2023, he is one of the only remaining Holocaust Survivors his age who survived four concentration camps...and a Death March.  He turns 99 in July 2023. His story is remarkable...and he himself is equally as remarkable. 

You will learn:

-Where did Sam grow up and what was life like before the Germans invaded his country?

-How life changed once the Germans invaded and how long did the changes take?

-Why and when did Sam and his family decide to go into hiding and where did he hide?

-How did Sam end up in the Krakow Ghetto, how was it different than the infamous Warsaw Ghetto, and what took place in the Ghetto?  

-When did Sam first realize that the Germans were not just transporting Jews to what they disguised as labor camps, but were actually killing them.

-How many times was Sam transported in cattle cars and what was that like?

-Which concentration camps was Sam in & what were they like?

-What was life like in the concentration camps and why did they move Sam around to different camps?

-What is a Death March, why and how did that happen and how did Sam survive it?

-What lessons should our listeners take away from Sam's experience?

-What does Never Again mean to Sam and why is it so important for him to share this and other Holocaust lessons

Mark Kostabi is a prolific, world renowned artist with over 30,000 paintings under his belt!   In 1982, he moved to New York City and by 1984 he was already a prominent figure of the East Village art scene.. He is most known for his paintings of faceless figures which often comment on contemporary political, social and psychological issues.  His paintings are displayed all over the world. He has designed album covers, a Swatch watch and public works throughout Italy where he divides his time between Rome and New York City. 

In this exclusive interview on The Motivation Show we discuss:

-What are his six golden rules for success that have catapulted him to fame and fortune?

-Why the faceless figures in his art he is so renowned? What do they represent?

-What is he most concerned about in the world today that he reflecting in his art?

-Why did he move from NY from CA & why he thinks his career took off like wildfire in the East Village art scene of the day?

-Who were his artistic influences?

-What is he most proud of?

-How would he like to be remembered?

-What advice would he give anyone starting out today?

Mark's paintings are on display at Park West Gallery locations around the world including in New York City at Park West Gallery in Soho https://www.parkwestgallery.com/newyork/

Psychic Medium Craig McManus is well known in the New York City area as one of the top mediums in his field, with a four-year waiting list he says for those who want to experience his gift of connecting the living with friends and family in spirit. He has written five books on ghosts and spirits, and currently teaches courses on how people can hone and use their natural intuitive and psychic ability. Craig has been featured in the press and on TV with appearances on Haunted Towns and the TODAY Show.

We ask Craig:

-When did he first realize he had the gift of communicating with the dead

-How does he bring through spirits

-What tends to come through from spirits

-What kind of healing those that lost loved ones have reported receiving

Gilbert O'Sullivan is a celebrated and beloved worldwide charting artist who has charted 16 top 40 records including six No. 1 songs. Across his career, he has recorded 20 studio albums. The music magazine Record Mirror voted him the top UK male singer of 1972. His worldwide #1 hit “Alone Again (Naturally)” celebrated its 50th Anniversary in 2022 and was nominated for three Grammy® Awards. It spent six non-consecutive weeks at number one on Billboard's Hot 100 between late July and early September 1972 in America.

-Learn about his “Best Of” collection released in 2022 which spans a 67 track career including a collection of music from 1970 til 2022.  

-His latest Album “Driven” and what the title derives from and means  

-What Shindig! Magazine had to say about O’Sullivan’s Driven album in 2022

-Who were the greats that influenced his career, musical style and lyrics (hint...one influence was a foursome and another was pioneer folk singer)

-Did he know when we wrote it if “Alone Again" would be the huge hit it became?

-In Alone Again Naturally. some of the classic lyrics are: "And at 65 years old, my mother, God rest her soul, Couldn’t understand why the only man, she had ever loved had been taken."  Was that a true story about his mother and father and is that what inspired this song?

-Which cities Gilbert is touring in these days and how to learn more about his upcoming gigs and albums

Today, Irish singer-songwriter Gilbert O'Sullivan continues to be regarded with tremendous affection & his songs remain well-loved around the world.

Gianni Russo is known as the Hollywood Godfather, which also happens to be the name of his best selling book. In the book, he candidly talks about his life in the mob as well as his glorious movie career starring in The Godfather 1 & 2 movies. Wait til you hear some of the incredible people he palled around with including some of the infamous ladies he was…well…let’s just say he was associated with. 

You will learn:

-Where he grew up and what were the circumstances & motivations that led him to being a Mafia Associate.

-What...ahem..."activities" did being a mafia associate actually entail? 

-What is different about Little Italy today vs. in the old days when Mob boss John Gotti ruled the roost at the infamous Ravenite Social Club?

-What inspired him to do a tell-all memoir, or should I say…ALMOST all, called: Hollywood Godfather: My Life in the Movies and the Mob

-What was his relationship with notorious gangster Frank Costello, former crime boss of the Luciano crime family.

-At the age of 25, you came out of nowhere and was cast in the original Godfather movie as Sonny Corleone’s brother-in-law Carlo Rizzi. How did he get that plum role?  

-The famous nightclub he owned in Sin City, and the night where he shot and killed someone in self defense and what notorious affiliation the person he killed had.

-The mafia code of silence and how it began to disintegrate and why wise guys started singing like canary's

-His relationship with Marilyn Monroe

-His second book The 6th Family: A Gianni Russo Novel – Book 1., the first in a series of books where there is much truth in the fiction.

-Does he have any regrets & what he would do differently? 

-What positive and inspiring messages can my listeners learn from your 80 years of a roller coaster life?

-How he would like Gianni Russo to be remembered?

Hunter Arnold is a Producer of a plethora of Broadway Tony Winners and hits including Kinky Boots, Dear Evan Hansen, Pretty Woman, the current Broadway musicals Hadestown, Some Like It Hot… the Neil Diamond musical A Beautiful Noise… and the Play, Pictures from Home at Studio 54 with Nathan Lane, as well as upcoming shows like Back to the Future and Once Upon a One More Time - An original story powered by the music of Britney Spears.

We discuss:

-What influenced him early on to love theatre and eventually become a prolific Broadway Producer?

-How the pandemic changed things and how did he and does he maintain optimism when things looked so bleak and we are still not entirely out of the woods?

-It has been said that only one in four and five shows turn a profit. Is that true, and why against these odds does he produce Broadway shows?

-What he looks for when deciding to produce a show    Does he have any specific criteria or formulas that guide him?

-Why Hunter has a passion for making Broadway more diverse, and how he would like to see how industry leaders such as himself make it happen.  

If you are a Theatre/Broadway fan, you will find this exclusive fascinating, revealing and you will learn some behind-the-scenes info available no where else!!!

Meet Joe Germanotta, the father behind the international superstar Lady Gaga, and the owner of NYC's Italian restaurant Joanne Trattoria, in this one-of-a-kind interview. He discusses:

-His wife Cynthia and her Born This Way Foundation - His other daughter Natalie - Lady's Gaga's Meat Dress - What makes Lady Gaga the success that she is - Lady Gaga's decision to quit school and start a music career - When Joe knew that Lady Gaga was going to be successful - How Joe would like to see Lady Gaga's best known for - How did Lady Gaga and Tony Bennett start to collaborate on music - What steered Joe into the restaurant business? - How did the name of Joanne Trattoria come about - Joe's favorite dish at Joanne Trattoria - Joe's favorite part of running a restaurant - Would Joe change anything about his life if he could - Joe's regrets - What Joe is proud of - Joe's philosophy and three easy steps of achieving anything - Joe's advise on how to make it in music