WORLD FOOTPRINTS

For over a century Detroit, Michigan has hosted an auto show.  The show's start in 1907 had a regional focus and continued that way for several decades.  Then, in the 1980s a London cabby asked a board member why Detroit's show didn't include international autos.  That started the wheels turning (no pun) and in 1987 the North American International Auto Show(NAIAS) made it's debut.  Bob Shuman, Chairman of NAIAS 2014, joins World Footprints to talk about the latest innovations in automobile design and what visitors can expect to see.

Then we head north on I-96 to Lansing, Michigan's state capital to meet a son of the city who left after school to pursue a musical career.  John Fluker is an award-winning pianist, composer, vocalist and arranger who has a string of credits backing such R&B notables as Gladys Knight, Dionne Warwick, Oleta Adams and others like David Hasselhoff, Boys 2 Men and Queen Latifah.  In addition to backing Gladys Knight, John also served as her music director for several years.   How did this small town guy make it big in the music industry?  John will share his secret.

Finally, we will discover Lansing's rich transportation history with a tour of R.E. Olds Transporation Musuem where we'll explore the REO Motor Car Company, old-time bicycles and aviation endeavors.

World Footprints returns to St. Vincent and travels through the village of Layou on St. Vincent’s Leeward Coast.  Layou, which sits against a stunning backdrop of rockscapes and ridges, is filled with historic homes and churches, a small beach and crescent shaped bay.  On the ridge above the village you’ll find the Layou Petroglyph Park; the spot where we begin today’s broadcast with our guide Marlon Joseph.

From Layou we travel to Argyle, where, in the near future St. Vincent will welcome the thousands of visitors in its newly built international airport.  The quarter-of-a-billion dollar Argyle International Airport is the large development project in St. Vincent’s history.  Jennifer Richardson of the Airport’s Development Corporation takes us onsite to talk about the mega project.

We end today’s show at one of our favorite resorts, the newly built Buccament Bay.  General Manager Gianluca Cugnetto, a powerhouse in the hospitality industry, will discuss his passion for food, nature, and hospitality, and his desire to incorporate them all to provide visitors with a unique experience.

Speaking of one of the many unique features that Buccament Bay offers, Tonya enjoyed an afternoon with two of London’s West End talents at the resort’s Harlequin Performing Arts Academy.  Actor & Singing Coach John Barr (Convict #5 in Les Miserables) and Musical Director Tim Davies helped Tonya find her true voice as she performed the song “I Dream A Dream.”

World Footprints will walk in the footprints of two socially-conscious guests--an entertainer whose musical talkents led her to change her life to live her passion, and we'll welcome back a good friend whose efforts are savings one of the most graceful and beautiful big cats on our planet.

Rene Marie is a singer, actress and writer who uses her energetic and dynamic voice to raise awareness about social issues.  Inspired by iconic entertainer - Eartha Kitt - Rene has released a tribute album honoring Eartha Kitt, an inspiring artist who helped changed America's landscape for the better.  Rene also uses her voice to shine attention on important issues in America.

The cheetach is one of the oldest and most majestic animals in the world and is fighting to survive.  While it's taken four million years for the species to develop, it has only taken 100 years for mankind to bring the cheetah to the brink of extinction.  Dr. Laurie Marker has made it her life's mission to reverse that trend.  As the founder of the Cheetah Conservation Fund, Dr. Marker and her team are ensuring that the cheetach is here for the ages.

World Footprints is pleased to welcome two giants in the travel world: Pauline Frommer and Patricia Schultz. Pauline and her dad, the famous Arthur Frommer opened the doors of affordable travel to many Americans with his travel guide books, and Pauline joins World Footprints to talk about her family’s travel legacy and her efforts to create her own legacy in the travel space. Then Patricia Schultz, author of the New York Times #1 Bestseller, 1,000 Places To See Before You Die, joins World Footprints for an interesting pair of conversations about her books, travels and her transformative experiences.

Have you ever descended into the depths of a mine, or panned for gold in Alaska? Its all in a days work for Kirsten Gum, former host of the Travel Channel’s Treasure Hunter and World Footprints will explore the treasures of the world on today’s “Best Of…” show. Then World Footprints will be joined by Hollywood actress Stefanie Powers who is keeping alive the African legacy of the late film star William Holden, who established a well known game ranch and sanctuary in Kenya. Stefanie will talk about her Hart for animals and her conservation work.

World Footprints will take listeners on a journey that follows the North Star today. 

Many Americans are familiar with the slave revolts led by John Brown and Nat Turner, but the story of the greatest act of slave resistance in American history took place in 1811 and has remained largely untold, until now.  Daniel Rasmussen, acclaimed author of American Uprising: The Untold Story of America’s Largest Slave Revolt has pulled back the curtain on a long neglected period in New Orleans and he joins World Footprints to discuss his research and provide a glimpse into the history of slavery in the South and our nation’s path to Civil War.

Meet Bradley Myles, Executive Director of Polaris Project.  Named after the North Star that guided slaves towards freedom along the Underground Railroad, Polaris Project has been providing a comprehensive approach to combating human trafficking and modern-day slavery since 2002.  Polaris Project has created the National Human Trafficking hotline in order to combat human trafficking. 

Finally, SEAsoned chef Victoria Allman shares what it’s like to live on a super-yacht that cruises the oceans and docks in exotic ports around the world in her book, SEAsoned: A Chef’s Journey with her Captain.  Victoria offers a first-hand account of her journey as a yacht chef with her husband Patrick on his first assignment as Captain.  From comical adventures with inexperienced crew, and dysfunctional passengers to the violent storm, rapidly flooding engine room and great mouth-watering recipes, SEAsoned offers a great adventure & cookbook.

Some of our favorite celebrities are people who are displaying their sense of humanity and building legacies of positive footprints that go beyond the big and small screens.

Don Diamont is an extraordinary actor who has been seen on both the big and small screens.  Most recognized for his role as “Dollar Bill Spencer, Jr.,” on the CBS Daytime Drama, The Bold and the Beautiful, Don was also seen in the film Anger Management with Jack Nicolson and Adam Sandler and Marco Polo opposite Jack Palance.   Don made history when he was named in People’s Magazine “50 Most Beautiful” issue and more recently in the 2009 “Sexiest Man Alive” issue.  Don’s resume includes his role as Ambassador of the Year by the National Multiple Sclerosis Society in recognition of his work and efforts to find a cure for this crippling disease. 

Heather Tom is a two-time Emmy Award winning actress is recognized for her role as “Katie Logan-Spencer” on the CBS Daytime drama, The Bold and the Beautiful.  Heather began acting at the tender ago of two and she’s been seen in many roles on television, on the big screen and on the stage.  However, Heather embraces an even larger role on the world stage as an activist and humanitarian.

Eric Braeden has captivated audiences for many years.  From his role as John Jacob Astor in James Cameron’s Titanic to his most famous role as the dashing Victor Newman in the #1 daytime drama, The Young & The Restless—a role that garnered an Emmy Award, several Emmy nominations and a People’s Choice Award.  Eric has held many screen roles over the last 50 years, but he has also been honored for his real-life role as a humanitarian and for his work to bridge cultural gaps.

World Footprints  ends this year with Part 2 of the 3-part interview with Emmy Award winning actor Eric Braeden, who plays Victor Newman on The Young & the Restless (CBS Daytime).   Eric talks about his favorite travel destinations and his efforts to foster peace and understanding between Germans and the Jewish community.  Then, enjoy a New Year's feast with Spain’s celebrated chef Maria Jose San Roman as she shares the secret ingredient that appears in all of her dishes (and cocktails).  Finally, we celebrate every day as World Animal Day so we're pleased to joined by Paul Butler, SVP of Global Programs at RARE Conservation, who will discuss RARE’s animal conservation efforts and the world-wide Pride Campaign.

World Footprints is pleased to share an hour of two very popular Book Club shows.  We'll travel through the lives of two celebrities and live vicariously through their pens.  Actress Gloria Loring (Days of our Lives) shares her tumulous life journey and where she drew the inspiration to keep moving forward in her new book "Coincidence is God's Way of Remaining Anonymous."   Gloria will also share the trials of parenting two teenage boys, including popular R&B star Robin Thicke.

British songwriter Billy Franks puts his whole life on display in his book "A Far Cry from Sunset" and he'll take us on an emotional journey as we explore his personal journey (which also includes his introduction and growing friendship with Prince Harry).

Today World Footprints  will spend Christmas Eve exploring a sample of the multiple treasures that can be found in New Orleans.  We will share a wonderful conversation with Chef Leah Chase of Dokie Chaserestaurant fame.  Chef Leah is an iconic figure in New Orleans.  She was the inspiration behind Tiana, the principle character in the Disney Animated Picture Princess and the Frog. 

Then World Footprints will take listeners through two little known musuems, the Free People of Color museum and the African-American museum.  Other stops on this audio trip include a tour through Treme and a visit to the famed Carosel bar in the Hotel Monteleone.

New Orleans is a treasure trove of wonderful museums, rich history and cultural gumbo and today’s show will explore just a few of the treasure today.