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

This week, Ira spoke with Los Angeles-based chanteuse and songwriter Jessica Fichot, who will be performing at three Las Vegas Clark County Library locations, December 13-15 (free admission). In this 30-minute episode of Talk About Las Vegas, Fichot talks about her heritage, being raised by a Chinese mother and French father; spending her youth in and around Paris, moving to Los Angeles and pursuing a music career with a unique style and independent approach; embracing her international influences; and deciding to make the accordion her instrument of choice.

This week, Ira spoke with Andy Schuon, co-Founder and CEO of Spkr (an audio platform that is modernizing the way we interact with, share, and listen to audio content), who was the keynote speaker at the recent Governor’s Global Tourism Summit in Las Vegas. In this 30-minute episode of Talk About Las Vegas, Schuon talks about his unique career, from postcard to intern to morning guy to CBS Radio to MTV; how music affects culture and drives tourism; his adventures in Las Vegas, moving background music to the foreground; and his new app project, Spkr, an app that curates and pushes content out, uses hosts, and solves the time and discovery issues of typical podcasts. https://talkaboutlasvegas.com/talking-with-andy-schuon-november-25-2019/

This week, Ira spoke with Jim Quinn, author of “DON’T BE AFRAID TO WIN: How Free Agency Changed the Business of Pro Sports,” In this 30-minute episode of Talk About Las Vegas, Quinn talks about how he found himself in the middle of a major movement in sports; the importance of free agency and the need for competition; dealing with different leagues across different sports; why owners fought it, but ended up with a bonanza; why salary caps tied to revenue is a good idea; the critical role of Bill Bradley; and the famous 1964 twenty-one minute strike that resulted in players receiving pensions. https://talkaboutlasvegas.com/talking-with-jim-quinn-november-18-2019/

This week, Ira spoke with Richard N. “Rick” Velotta, Assistant Business Editor of the Las Vegas Review-Journal, who has covered business, the gaming industry, tourism, transportation and aviation in Las Vegas for more than 25 years. In this 30-minute episode of Talk About Las Vegas, Velotta talks about his decision to move to Las Vegas; how the sheer volume of stories he covers keeps him excited and involved; why the top stories of 2019 include the Wynn shake up, the building of MSG Sphere, and the soon-to-be opening of Allegiant Stadium (2020); and the never-ending saga of the train from Las Vegas to Victorville.

This week, Ira spoke with Chadwick Johnson. In this 30-minute episode of Talk About Las Vegas, Johnson talks about making the transition -from performing duets with his grandmother in church, team roping and horse training, and performing the national anthem at more than 40 rodeo competitions throughout the country - to becoming a singer-songwriter and performing artist; how a night in Palm Springs inspired him to record an album; how he discovered that people want a personal connection from performers; and how tough the business of show business can be. https://talkaboutlasvegas.com/talking-with-chadwick-johnson-november-4-2019/

This week, Ira spoke with Garry Peterson, drummer and founding member of The Guess Who. The group will be performing November 1 at The Golden Nugget Las Vegas. In this 30-minute episode of Talk About Las Vegas, Peterson talks about his jazz background and why music is an integral part of his life; how his “drug” is the music and the audience; why music is a marker of history for people; how the current band differs from the original band by connecting personally with the audience; why the group’s current album reflects the influence of artists from the past; how the treat for many fans is to listen (in addition to the hits) to the cuts of the many albums the band has recorded; and why he felt a shiver down his back when he entered a unique dressing room for the first time at the Golden Nugget.https://talkaboutlasvegas.com/talking-with-garry-peterson-october-28-2019/

This week, Ira spoke with journalist Alan Snel, whose popular website, LVSportsBiz.com, reports the business side of Las Vegas' expanding sports industry. He’s author of “Long Road Back to Las Vegas: How Las Vegas and the Golden Knights healed a journalist's wounds.” In this 30-minute episode of Talk About Las Vegas, Snell talks about about his road back to recovery and Las Vegas after a traumatic bicycle accident; his development of a unique website to cover the burgeoning intersection of sports and business in Las Vegas; the top five stories of 2019; and what he sees as the future of major sports in Las Vegas.

This week, Ira spoke with Burt Kearns, author (along with Jeff Abraham) of “THE SHOW WON'T GO ON: The Most Shocking, Bizarre, and Historic Deaths of Performers Onstage.” In this 30-minute episode of Talk About Las Vegas, Kearns talks about the fascinating number of performers who have died onstage, including those who have died on stage in Las Vegas or who have performed here and died elsewhere; the authors’ desire to make this book a recognition of these performers’ contributions, rather than simply a macabre recitation of their deaths on stage; the reaction of relatives and loved ones to publication of the book and their willingness to talk to the authors; and recognition that performers continue to died after the publication of the book.

This week, Ira spoke with Tilman Fertitta, author of the new book, SHUT UP AND LISTEN: Hard Business Truths That Will Help You Succeed. In this 30-minute episode of Talk About Las Vegas, Fertitta talks about his elementary, but sophisticated approach to business success; his “Tilmanisms” for competing and winning; his realization that there are no spare customers; how he grew from a $6,000 loan to a $5 billion business; why it’s important to build a culture as well as a team; and why you must have passion and drive and never give up.

Sonia El-Nawal, chef-owner of Rooster Boy Cafe at Desert Shores, joins me on “Talk About Las Vegas With Ira,” now posted at https://talkaboutlasvegas.com/ and also on iTunes, https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/talk-about-las-vegas-with-ira/id1455252464 and SoundCloud, https://soundcloud.com/user-222101327

The chef talks about her global travels while cooking; working with some of great chefs of the world; her decision to move to Las Vegas; why she picked the rooster as the face (?) of her cafe; why she decided to make her cafe different from the standard presentations in Las Vegas; and how he aims to stimulate not just taste, but memories.