Actor Yul Vazquez calls in from a blustery day in New York City to discuss the season finale of NBC's "Midnight, Texas," where he plays Reverend Emilio Sheehan, the oldest inhabitant of the supernatural town and its moral compass who harbors a dark secret—he transforms into a weretiger during full moons. Vazquez explains the fascinating duality of his character, a man of the cloth who struggles to reconcile his violent nature with his religious calling, spending his energy trying to keep his dangerous side in check and ensuring nobody gets hurt when he transforms. He teases that tonight's season finale will have viewers putting on their seatbelts as the demon threat that's been building all season finally comes to a head in what he promises is "a hell of an episode." The conversation turns to Vazquez's enduring association with Seinfeld, where he appeared in two memorable episodes including "The Ribbon" and the controversial Puerto Rican Day Parade episode, noting that no matter how many projects he completes, people still recognize him from that iconic show. He enthusiastically discusses the passionate fan base of "Midnight, Texas," explaining how he and the cast live-tweet with viewers during each episode and how these genuine fans know Charlaine Harris's books better than the actors themselves, often commenting on how the show matches their imagination from years of reading. Vazquez makes an impassioned plea for networks to pay attention to social media engagement and streaming numbers rather than just traditional ratings, arguing that fans are tired of investing in shows only to have them cancelled, and warning that there could be "a riot" if networks don't start recognizing the power of devoted audiences who trend every episode and deliver strong demographic numbers.

Brooklyn Nine-Nine actresses Stephanie Beatriz and Melissa Fumero discuss the show's successful transition to NBC and Beatriz's directorial debut with the episode "He Said, She Said," which tackles the #MeToo movement while maintaining the show's signature comedic tone. Beatriz expresses her excitement about directing an episode that follows her character Rosa Diaz and Fumero's character Amy Santiago investigating a case related to the movement, describing the challenge of balancing serious social issues with comedy and the pressure that comes with wanting to honor important stories while still making people laugh. She credits the episode's writer and the safe, comfortable environment she created on set for allowing the cast to take risks and fully commit to the material.
Reflecting on what she learned from directing, Beatriz shares her newfound appreciation for the crew's tireless work, noting how actors receive special treatment with comfortable chairs and breaks while crew members work nonstop from arrival to departure. Fumero praises her friend and co-star's directorial skills, emphasizing Beatriz's ability to communicate clearly about what she wanted to see and achieve, creating a relaxed, "homey" atmosphere that felt natural since it was one of their own behind the camera rather than an outside director. Both actresses express gratitude for the devoted fan community that kept the show alive and followed it from one network to another, with Beatriz joking about how creator Dan Goor invented this pretend world that felt so real, good, happy, and safe that viewers remained loyal through the transition to NBC's Thursday night lineup.

Anne Heche joins the Neil Haley Show to discuss her powerful role as Patricia Campbell, Deputy Director of Defense Intelligence for the United States, in NBC's action drama "The Brave," describing the intensive preparation required to portray such a high-ranking official. Heche explains that her character runs an Omega team—special forces units composed of Delta, SEAL, and CIA operatives—and must make life-and-death decisions that impact operations taking place 5,000 miles away while holding what she describes as an encyclopedia of knowledge about pain and darkness in the world. The show takes viewers to 13 different countries over 13 episodes, exploring how these elite teams work together across international boundaries to combat threats and maintain global peace.
The actress reveals that her research included speaking with Pentagon officials who worked alongside Condoleezza Rice, and when she asked if there was anything to smile about in such a position, the answer was simply "no." However, Heche emphasizes that Patricia Campbell is not defined by darkness but rather by hope and the desire to solve the world's problems to create peace. She discusses how the role has changed her perspective on current events and news consumption, noting that someone she met at the Pentagon laughed at her for believing what she read in the New York Times, leading her to search for information in different places and recognize that what the public is told isn't always what's actually happening. Heche stresses the importance of telling stories about military personnel who sacrifice their lives daily, arguing that these teams operating in 136 countries deserve recognition for their service above self.

Broadway legend and Emmy winner Kristen Chenoweth discusses her scene-stealing role as Lavinia Peck in NBC's mockumentary comedy "Trial & Error: Lady Killer" Season 2, where she plays a larger-than-life Southern first lady accused of murdering her husband after 40 years of living in Grey Gardens-type seclusion in her East Peck mansion. Chenoweth explains how she drew on her own Southern upbringing to bring authenticity to the character, noting that Lavinia has adopted the mannerisms and speech patterns of 1930s and 1940s movie stars and refuses to learn anyone's names, simply calling people "Lawyer," "Judge," and "Other person." She describes the creative freedom writer Jeff Astroff gave her through confessional scenes where she speaks directly to the camera, revealing both Lavinia's dramatic flair and her underlying sadness and loneliness.

MSNBC's Ari Melber joins Neil Haley to celebrate the one-year anniversary of "The Beat," reflecting on a tumultuous news year covering the Trump administration and discussing how his show has grown to attract 1.3 million nightly viewers—more than any show in the history of its timeslot and surpassing CNN's programming at 6 p.m. and later. Melber explains his unique approach to news programming, which combines breaking news coverage with deeper investigative reports and cultural segments, including recent interviews with both Jay Goldberg (Trump's former lawyer before Michael Cohen) and critics of the president, as well as Broadway star Daveed Diggs from Hamilton. He emphasizes his commitment to providing fair, objective, and thoughtful coverage regardless of viewers' political perspectives. The conversation takes a deep dive into education policy as Melber discusses his critical examination of Education Secretary Betsy DeVos and her approach to running the Department of Education. Drawing on his own experience attending a magnet public school in Seattle that had both National Merit scholars and dealt with an on-campus shooting, Melber shares his nuanced understanding of how complex education issues are and why testing alone provides only a narrow slice of what's happening in schools. He and Neil debate the challenges of school choice, charter schools, and voucher programs, with Melber questioning DeVos's admission that she hasn't figured out how to visit and improve lower-performing schools, arguing that as Secretary of Education for America, she needs to be concerned about all schools, not just some of them.

The Neil Haley Show welcomes a dynamic lineup of guests discussing their latest television ventures and creative endeavors. Ari Melber from MSNBC's "The Beat" kicks off the conversation by celebrating his show's one-year anniversary, reflecting on the challenges of covering news in the Trump era and discussing his unique approach to blending breaking news with deeper cultural stories. He shares insights on his coverage of education policy, particularly his critical examination of Betsy DeVos's tenure as Secretary of Education, and explains how his show has grown to attract 1.3 million nightly viewers by combining straight news reporting with thoughtful analysis and cultural segments.
Broadway star Kristen Chenoweth joins the program to discuss her role in NBC's "Trial & Error: Lady Killer" Season 2, where she plays Lavinia Peck, a larger-than-life Southern first lady accused of murdering her husband. Chenoweth draws on her own Southern upbringing to bring authenticity to the mockumentary-style comedy, explaining how she researched true crime documentaries and was inspired by writer Jeff Astroff's loose adaptation of the Robert Durst case. She shares her appreciation for fans who have followed her career from her iconic Broadway role in "Wicked" to her television work, and discusses the balance between playing a character who is both potentially villainous and beloved.
Anne Heche appears on the show to talk about NBC's "The Brave," where she portrays Patricia Campbell, the Deputy Director of Defense Intelligence for the United States. Heche describes the intensive preparation required to play such a powerful role, including conversations with Pentagon insiders and extensive research into global intelligence operations. She discusses how the show highlights the work of Omega teams—special forces units made up of Delta, SEAL, and CIA operatives—operating in 136 countries around the world, and emphasizes the importance of telling stories about military personnel who sacrifice daily for global peace and security.
Brooklyn Nine-Nine stars Stephanie Beatriz and Melissa Fumero discuss the show's move to NBC and Beatriz's directorial debut with an episode addressing the #MeToo movement. Beatriz reflects on the valuable lessons she learned while directing, particularly gaining a deeper appreciation for the crew's hard work and witnessing her co-stars' talents from behind the camera. Fumero praises Beatriz's directorial skills, noting her ability to create a safe, comfortable environment while balancing the show's signature comedy with sensitive social issues. Both actresses express gratitude for the devoted fan community that helped save the show and supported its transition to a new network.
Throughout these interviews, Neil Haley explores themes of professional growth, creative challenges, and the responsibility that comes with portraying important stories and characters on television. From news journalism to comedy to drama, each guest shares their commitment to quality storytelling and connecting with audiences who appreciate their work across different genres and platforms.

In this important episode of the Total Celebrity Show on the Total Education Network, host Neil Haley sits down with NFL Hall of Fame running back Barry Sanders and neurological expert Dr. Greg O'Shanick to discuss their advocacy campaign Tackle PBA, which aims to raise awareness about pseudobulbar affect (PBA)—a little-known neurological condition affecting approximately 2 million Americans, including many former football players. Dr. O'Shanick explains that PBA causes uncontrollable and unpredictable episodes of laughing and crying that are completely out of context with what the person is actually feeling or experiencing. Someone with PBA might laugh uncontrollably during a solemn church service or begin crying during a routine parent-teacher conference, leading to embarrassment, social isolation, and damaged relationships in both personal and professional settings. The condition occurs in individuals who have other chronic neurological conditions such as traumatic brain injuries, concussions, strokes, multiple sclerosis, Lou Gehrig's disease, or Alzheimer's disease. Crucially, Dr. O'Shanick emphasizes that PBA is treatable and that people don't need to suffer in silence or feel stigmatized by their symptoms.
Barry Sanders shares his personal connection to the cause through his work with the Gridiron Greats Assistance Fund, which conducted a survey revealing that one-third of former NFL players exhibit PBA-like symptoms. These findings deeply resonated with Sanders, as many of these players are men he competed with and against throughout his legendary career—athletes who gave everything to the game and deserve access to proper diagnosis and treatment. Dr. O'Shanick notes that family members are often the first to recognize PBA symptoms, as affected individuals may not fully grasp what's happening to them or may attribute their emotional outbursts to grief or sadness related to their primary condition. The Tackle PBA campaign encourages anyone experiencing these symptoms or concerned about a loved one to visit tacklepba.org, where they can take a self-assessment test and find resources for discussing the condition with their physician. Both Sanders and Dr. O'Shanick stress that awareness and education are critical first steps, as PBA has been understood medically for over 100 years but often goes undiagnosed simply because patients and healthcare providers aren't familiar with it. Sanders also reflects on his life after his remarkable football career, discussing how his platform has allowed him to engage in meaningful charity work and advocacy efforts like Tackle PBA while remaining a passionate fan of the game that gave him so many opportunities.

In this fascinating episode of Authors Corner on the Total Education Network, host Neil Haley welcomes cycling legend Greg LeMond and co-author Dr. Mark Hom to discuss their groundbreaking book "The Science of Fitness: Power, Performance and Endurance." Greg LeMond, the three-time Tour de France champion, teams up with Dr. Hom to explore the science behind athletic performance, recovery, and the crucial role of mitochondria in human energy production. Their collaboration brings together LeMond's decades of elite athletic experience with Dr. Hom's medical expertise to create a comprehensive guide that challenges conventional training wisdom.
Dr. Mark Hom explains how his personal quest to understand exercise physiology at age fifty led him to focus on mitochondria—the cellular powerhouses that convert food and body fat into energy for muscles, heart, and brain. He reached out to Greg LeMond because the cycling champion's career uniquely encompassed both peak mitochondrial performance and the devastating effects of mitochondrial myopathy that forced his early retirement. LeMond's experience with lead poisoning and its impact on his mitochondria provides invaluable insights into the delicate balance required for optimal athletic performance and the dangers of overtraining.

In this action-packed episode of the Total Education Network, host Neil Haley welcomes cycling legend Greg LeMond and Dr. Mark Hom to discuss their groundbreaking book "The Science of Fitness: Power, Performance and Endurance," followed by the popular Total Education Q&A segment with parenting expert Maggie Stevens from The Parent Fix. Greg LeMond, the three-time Tour de France champion, teams up with Dr. Hom to explore the science behind athletic performance, recovery, and the crucial role of mitochondria in human energy production. Their collaboration brings together LeMond's decades of elite athletic experience with Dr. Hom's medical expertise to create a comprehensive guide that challenges conventional training wisdom.
Dr. Mark Hom explains how his personal quest to understand exercise physiology at age fifty led him to focus on mitochondria—the cellular powerhouses that convert food and body fat into energy for muscles, heart, and brain. He reached out to Greg LeMond because the cycling champion's career uniquely encompassed both peak mitochondrial performance and the devastating effects of mitochondrial myopathy that forced his early retirement. LeMond's experience with lead poisoning and its impact on his mitochondria provides invaluable insights into the delicate balance required for optimal athletic performance and the dangers of overtraining. The conversation reveals surprising truths about exercise science, including how athletes get stronger during recovery rather than during workouts, and why short intense intervals are more effective than excessive volume training.
In the second half of the show, Neil Haley and Maggie Stevens tackle real parent questions in their Total Education Q&A segment. Neil passionately addresses a frustrating grading situation with his third-grade daughter Ava, who dropped from an A to a B in social studies due to one missing homework assignment worth forty-five percent, despite achieving perfect scores on everything else. This sparks an intense discussion about teacher accountability, the disproportionate weight of homework assignments, and how parents should advocate for their children when grading policies seem unfair. Neil vows to contact the teacher directly rather than play "email tag" and emphasizes that parents must take charge of their children's education.
Maggie Stevens and Neil also address a heartbreaking question from a twenty-four-year-old mother who admits she doesn't want to spend time with her daughter and struggles to connect with her child. While Maggie compassionately suggests the mother may have deeper relationship issues that require counseling, Neil takes a harder stance, arguing that if someone truly cannot commit to being a parent, they should consider giving full custody to the father rather than damaging the child with half-hearted involvement. The hosts also discuss viral parenting tactics on YouTube, including parents who post videos of their children's tantrums, and debate whether humor is an appropriate response or if such posts constitute humiliation of children.
The episode concludes with practical advice about parent-teacher conferences, Halloween safety concerns, and the importance of preparation when meeting with teachers. Neil emphasizes that parents should control the conference with specific questions rather than letting teachers dictate the conversation, especially given the limited eight-to-ten-minute time slots many schools provide. Throughout both segments, the show delivers its signature mix of expert insights, passionate advocacy for children's wellbeing, and no-nonsense advice for parents navigating the challenges of education and child-rearing. "The Science of Fitness" is available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble online, and through Elsevier, where it has been featured as the number one book on their homepage.

In this heartfelt episode of The Neil Haley Show, host Neil Haley sits down with legendary actor Robert Wagner to discuss his latest book, "I Loved Her in the Movies: Memories of Hollywood's Legendary Actresses." Robert Wagner, best known for his long-running television series Hart to Hart alongside Stephanie Powers, reflects on his remarkable career spanning decades and the extraordinary women who shaped his journey in Hollywood. Wagner shares intimate insights into what made these leading ladies so special and why he felt compelled to honor their contributions to cinema and his life. Robert Wagner opens up about the collaborative process behind his book, working closely with co-author Scott Eyman to capture the essence of Hollywood's most iconic actresses. He discusses the incredible range of talent he worked with throughout his career, from Audrey Hepburn and Bette Davis to Faye Dunaway, Ethan Hawke, and Lena Olin. Wagner emphasizes that these women weren't just talented performers—they were consummate professionals who brought unparalleled energy and dedication to every set. He candidly acknowledges the unique challenges actresses faced, balancing the demands of their craft with personal lives, relationships, and families, often sacrificing more than their male counterparts to achieve excellence in their profession. Throughout the conversation, Robert Wagner reveals his approach to acting and working with leading ladies: remaining completely open, listening intently, and staying present in the moment rather than arriving with preconceived notions. He describes how these actresses became invaluable collaborators who supported him through long shooting days and multiple takes, creating an atmosphere of mutual respect and artistic excellence. Wagner's philosophy of being vulnerable and empathetic with his co-stars allowed him to build genuine connections that translated into compelling on-screen chemistry and performances that have stood the test of time.