Way Off the Record

We're thrilled to introduce our first live-music episode! Our guest is Forrest Harrison Gerke, an amazing singer/songwriter and visual artist. Check out his work at: http://www.forrestgerke.com/

In this episode, we're treated to Forrest's unique interpretations of classic American songs, jazz standards as well as his take on more contemporary songs.

We think you'll agree with us that we all need more of this type of programming.

And check out Kay Gerke's amazing pottery: www.BentMountainPottery.com

Tom Gualtieri and I discuss his and David Sisco's project, Draw the Circle Wide

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCOr-EcdIB6arpne9Tt78Rjg

We talk about how, through DTCW, they hope to raise awareness about casting, how stories should evolve through songwriting, and how theatre needs to break open traditional ideas of race, sexual politics, gender issues, etc.

check out one of their collaborators:

Ali Stroker (Spring Awakening, Oklahoma)

https://youtu.be/uegUEZRAuGA

I hope you enjoy this episode as much as did in making it!

This is a special holiday episode!

Kristian and I talk about how this podcast has impacted our lives as a couple, our favorite holiday film and song, etc..\

We discuss:

• My white trash proclivities, inc. Velveeta and Campbell's Bean and Bacon soup
• Mariah Carey
• Barbra Streisand
• Our Dominican vs. Italian/French family heritage

ENJOY!

special thanks for legal advice, from Arlen Appelbaum, for legal advice: https://www.facebook.com/arlen.appelbaum

LB and I share our origin stories growing up in upstate NY. We talk about race relations in Charlotte, Chelsea Handler, and our various careers, including Calvin Klein (hers), Cosby Show (mine) scuba diving training in Mexico (definitely hers), and her company Practical Dramatics and what "soft skills" are.

You can learn more about her company, Practical Dramatics, here: https://www.practicaldramatics.com/

Watch her inspiring TedTalk https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_iZHqG4rB34

It's an inspiring chat, I hope you'll listen.

Travel for many people means many things: New places, new adventures, food, etc.

In this episode, Nancy and I talk all about the cultural aspects of travel: What it's like to travel to distant lands, transact in a different language and currency, and especially how we adapt to vastly (or not) different cultures; and the challenge and joy of that.

Maya Angelou and Anthony Bourdain are also mentioned.

Jordan and I talk all about Mueller She Wrote, Margret Cho and her art collection, Jordan's new pod, Andrea Chalupa and the "very busy" Matt Miller and Bell House in BKNY, the comedy world vs. the podcast world, and Jordan coming out!

ENJOY!

Eric and I talk about his new, gorgeous album, White Ribbon Highway. Interspersed amongst the discussion are samples of each of the nine tracks. ENJOY!

You can purchase the album here: http://whiteribbonhighway.bandcamp.com/album/2

Joe and I talk about our time on the Cosby Show, my Phylicia Rashad moment, homophobia in the entertainment industry and what we've been up to in the past 30 years.

Maritri and I talk all about the process of making art: Stevie Wonder praising your set, living the life of an artist, Phoebe Snow, honoring those great talents we miss, like Leonard Cohen and Jeff Buckley, etc. And a little Judith Light to keep things interesting.

ENJOY!

I talk to Lisa, the mother of a trans son and non-binary child, who are twins.

We discuss what it's like to navigate a world in which, still, so many people prefer these folks to go away. We talk about the current administration and how that only adds to the problems trans kids have.

Also discussed is our own, initial biases and how we had to grapple with our own shit. Only then were we able to truly understand the issues of trans and non-binary folks.

I hope you'll listen and share, because this is info that I think is important to people to understand.