The Talk About Las Vegas Podcast | a podcast by Ira Sternberg

This week, Ira spoke with San Francisco based saxophonist, composer, recording artist, and educator Jason Hainsworth, performing with his quintet at Vic’s Las Vegas (August 2-3 at 7 and 8:30.) In this episode of “Talk About Las Vegas With Ira,” Jason talks about the “efficient” reason why he started playing the saxophone; how he became a band “nerd”; how he started to listen to more jazz music; learning “tricks of the trade”; the influence of legendary jazz educator Ellis Marsalis and saxophonist Victor Goines; the camaraderie of jazz musicians; balancing between performing and musical education; his role as a teacher; working hard but still having fun; how performing jazz is “crafted chaos”; and why the “Great American Songbook” is part of the DNA of jazz.

This week, Ira spoke with Chef Alicia Shevetone (founder), and Librarian Dr. Nichole Beer (curator), who launch America's first cookbook lending library in Las Vegas August 2. In this episode of “Talk About Las Vegas With Ira,” the dynamic duo talk about their new project, which will be based inside Palate Las Vegas, in downtown Las Vegas; how the books are curated (collection will be separated by geography); how they developed a circulation system; why they want to take this idea on the road; defining patron usage; how the lending library was certified by the American Library Association; why libraries and library collections are living organisms, which need to be tended to (weeding and planting to keep them alive); how this is a free resource for the community with a leap of faith; and why even though this is for the Las Vegas community, they want visitors to take back the idea to their hometowns.

This week, Ira spoke with Michael Sartain, a local celebrity and Vegas lifestyle pro, with years of expertise in the hospitality and entertainment industry. In this episode of “Talk About Las Vegas With Ira,” Michael talks about how he first became enamored with Las Vegas while in the US Air Force and came here for the NBA All-Star game; having more fun with less effort; the benefits of being a local; working as a nightlife host and knowing where the best spots are; the long history of bikini competitions in Vegas; the best time to go to a nightclub; his “Vegas immersion” coaching course; why Vegas is the extreme nightlife scene; how he stays organized; the Michael Sartain podcast, which focuses on evolutionary psychology; why Vegas is the apex of evolutionary psychology; and how he balances the two worlds of Vegas nightlife and mentoring.

This week, Ira spoke with Abingdon Mullin, founder and CEO of the Abingdon Company, based in Las Vegas and the city’s only independent watch brand. In this episode of “Talk About Las Vegas With Ira,” Abingdon talks about why she started the company - getting her pilot’s license and not being about to find a female pilot’s watch; getting together with other women to design such a watch; how she ended up in Las Vegas; why manufacturing and assembly is based in Las Vegas; her philosophy of starting with function; why decent water resistance, high quality materials and durability are the top three things her female customers look for in watches; why she wears two watches; her strategy of slow and steady growth; the creation of the Abingdon Foundation; and analog vs digital.

This week, Ira spoke with mentalist Colin Cloud, headlining the world premiere of “Colin Cloud: Mastermind” in Harrah’s Cabaret at Harrah’s Las Vegas (starting July 2). In this episode of “Talk About Las Vegas With Ira,” Colin, known as the “closest thing to a real-life Sherlock Holmes,” talks about his decision to headline his own show rather than continue performing with magician Shin Lim (as he had at the Mirage); his background performing solo shows that prepared him for this new show on the Las Vegas Strip; why location is key; being part of a magic show instead of just watching a magic show; why he didn’t enjoy magic as a kid; how his job as a performer is to make the audience members he works with into co-stars; his background as a criminal profiler; why mentalism, like come-dy, is just you and the audience; performing at the Magic Castle at age 21; why the show starts the minute you buy your ticket; the element of fun and play; performing in the mo-ment; and what he says to himself after each performance. (Also Watch Full Podcast Video)

This week, Ira spoke with comedian ventriloquist Mark Merchant, headlining in the A Stars Comedy Show at the Ahern Hotel June 27-29. In this episode of “Talk About Las Vegas With Ira,” Mark talks about how he got the moniker of “the comedy of two voices in one”; how he developed an interest in ventriloquism as a kid in Atlanta, Georgia; getting a Danny O’Day dummy and record from his parents; the funny story about meeting his wife in 1986; getting married on stage at a convention where he was performing; memories of the godfather of ventriloquism, Jimmy Nelson; his “characters,” Baby Big Ears and Zelda Rose; his prized Johnny Carson possession; and the fulfilling of one of his two dreams.

This week, Ira spoke with Miss Melanie Moore, performing at the Maxan Jazz Club June 21. In this episode of “Talk About Las Vegas With Ira,” Melanie talks about growing up in Dayton, Ohio and being influenced by The Supremes; finding every opportunity to sing as a child; studying nightclub singers while attending college; moved to New York and get-ting a job based on her business studies; how she began to perform with The Tymes and first toured Europe; her history with Luther Vandross; why she decided to move to Las Vegas; why she developed her own style and continues to study voice to this day; why the Las Vegas “scene” changes every six months; and her new album, "Melanie Moore, Anything You Need."

This week, Ira spoke with Geno Munari, author of "The Dunes Hotel and Casino: The Mob, the connections, the stories," who will participate in the “Meet & Greet Gaming Education Series” at the Casino Collectibles Association's 31st annual Casino Chip and Collectibles Show, June 13-15, at South Point Hotel and Casino. In this episode of “Talk About Las Vegas With Ira,” Geno talks about moving to Las Vegas in 1964; how he ended up working at the Dunes; why he got into magic and ownership of the Houdini Magic shops; the most interesting character (most memorable guy) at the Dunes; who was the real Las Vegas godfather; the significance of the Dunes; “a city within a city”; and what he will talk about at the Meet & Greet (including the true story of the “chip cup”).

This week, Ira spoke with Al Mancini, co-host of the popular “Food and Loathing” podcast, creator of the Las Vegas dining guide app, “Neon Feast,” and a special guest on "Milk Street Radio" at the Beverly Theater (June 10). In this episode of “Talk About Las Vegas With Ira,” Al talks about how he started writing about food after moving to Las Vegas; what he discovered about the culinary community; how chefs support each other, both in good times and bad; his famous mohawk; his podcast, which is a “passion project” and no pressure zone; why he started “Neon Feast” as a unique guide; the generational approach to taking pictures of your food at a restaurant; how he got involved in “Milk Street Live”; his neon news.vegas food blog, which also includes the interviews from his podcast ; and how COVID helped develop the local dining scene.

This week, Ira spoke with Award-winning chefs Susan Feniger & Mary Sue Milliken, who just opened their first stand alone and drive-thru concept of their BBQ Mexicana in the Las Vegas valley. In this episode of “Talk About Las Vegas With Ira,” Susan and Mary Sue talk about their long careers in the culinary world; how they first met in a restaurant kitchen and realized how both of them were dedicated to their careers; how they developed their idea for BBQ Mexicana, which blends Mexican and traditional southern flavors, crafted with organic, seasonal, and fresh ingredients; how the first stand alone and drive-thru concept included quick and casual food made to order; why people look at restaurants as entertainment; how executive chef Mike Minor came up with the idea of fusing Mexican and BBQ and introducing the BBQ Smoker; and therir plans for the future.