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

This week, Ira Sternberg spoke with veteran journalist Ron Futrell, who has been covering sports in Las Vegas for decades and has reported on the growth and challenges for both college and professional sports. In this 30-minute episode of Talk About Las Vegas, Futrell talks about the challenges facing Las Vegas professional and college sports as a result of the coronavirus; how major league teams will play to empty stadiums and arenas to fulfill their TV contracts and at least earn that portion of the revenue stream; the devastating financial impact on minor league teams and their players, as well as on UNLV sports; and one of the top sports stories he broke (among many Futrell has reported) that no one else in the local media would touch.

This week, Ira Sternberg spoke with entertainer, actor and comedian John Byner, author of “Five Minutes, Mr. Byner, A Lifetime of Laughter.” In this 30-minute episode of Talk About Las Vegas, Byner talks about his long career in show business; why he decided to write a book about his life and the people he met and worked with in the entertainment business; his favorite current comedian; his many impressions; and his performances in Las Vegas, which sometimes included Elvis in the audience.

This week, Ira Sternberg spoke with iconic filmmaker, actor and author John Waters, author of the new book, “Mr. Know-It-All, The Tarnished Wisdom of a Filth Elder.” In this episode of Talk About Las Vegas, Waters talks about his practical tips for making movies and dealing with Hollywood; how rejection is part of show business; his connections with Las Vegas; the day Liberace called him; how this is a country where he can be a provocateur and not face the firing squad; why old friends are important; and his only regret in life.

This week, Ira Sternberg spoke with Daniel K. Bubb, author of “Landing in Las Vegas: Commercial Aviation and the Making of a Tourist City.” In this 30-minute episode of Talk About Las Vegas, Bubb talks about the impact of commercial aviation on Las Vegas and how the West was a perfect fit through speed, space, and time; the development of package deals; the symbiotic relations between airlines and Las Vegas resorts; the choice between cars and planes when coming to Las Vegas from Southern California; the impact of the coronavirus on air travel to Las Vegas; and the future of Las Vegas when dealing with a public that is hesitant to fly.

This week, Ira Sternberg spoke with Reggie Burton (R. Avery Burton), author of “This is Depression.” In this 30-minute episode of Talk About Las Vegas (due to coronavirus, students are returning to college or distance learning and many families are isolated at home), Burton talks about losing his son to depression and suicide, and the steps he’s taken to use the grief to help others; the statistics that show many college students facing depression; the triggers that bring on potential suicidal ideation; why people need to be preemptive in dealing with matters of mental health; and why he believes, “I’m saving lives.”

This week, Ira Sternberg spoke with Geoff Schumacher, author of “Howard Hughes: Power, Paranoia, and Palace Intrigue,” Revised and Expanded. In this 30-minute episode of Talk About Las Vegas, Schumacher talks about the new material he has added to this revised and expanded edition, including the impact of Howard Hughes on Las Vegas; the men who assisted Hughes in gaining property (including casinos) in Nevada; who had the most influence on him; why Hughes remains an important figure in history; and his surprising legacy in Las Vegas.

This week, Ira Sternberg spoke with Las Vegas Review-Journal feature writer and food critic Heidi Knapp Rinella. In this 30-minute episode of Talk About Las Vegas, Rinella talks about the impact of coronavirus on Las Vegas restaurants; how some creative chefs are reimagining their businesses; what kinds of dining businesses are still prospering; adapting to the “new normal”; why restaurants are not just businesses, but part of the social fabric; and the culinary future of Las Vegas.

This week, Ira Sternberg spoke with award-winning Venetian vocalist Giada Valenti. In this 30-minute episode of Talk About Las Vegas, Valenti talks about her career journey from Venice to Las Vegas (where she now lives); her health scare and the biggest lesson she learned in life; her three-times-a-week Facebook Live show; her welcome by the arts and entertainment community here; the challenges for artists during the spread of the coronavirus; and how she stays optimistic.

This week, Ira Sternberg spoke with Pat Caddick, who has been involved in the Los Angeles and Las Vegas music scene for more than 30 years as a musician, arranger, orchestrator, producer, and director. In this 30-minute episode of Talk About Las Vegas, Caddick talks about his recent Facebook post that pointed out the large number of entertainment industry jobs affected by the shutdown of showrooms and lounges due to the coronavirus; how the shutdown has affected individual performers and their families; how people have stepped forward to help; ideas for bringing back entertainment options sooner rather than later; and his own career performing with some of the top names in the business.

This week, Ira Sternberg spoke with Diana Eden, author of “Stars in Their Underwear: My unpredictable journey from Broadway dancer to costume designer for some of Hollywood's biggest stars.” In this 30-minute episode of Talk About Las Vegas, Eden talks about her 30- year career in Hollywood; working in Las Vegas with Ann-Margret for her nightclub appearances, starting in 1974 (also working with Raquel Welch and Suzanne Somers on their acts); doing fittings on costumes for Jubilee's opening at the MGM Grand and waking up in her room to the infamous fire; returning to Las Vegas the following August to remount the new show when the hotel re-opened; and her decision to move to Las Vegas after so many years in Hollywood.