In this episode of Worth the Price of Admission, I sit down with Olympian and multi‑hyphenate horseman Doug Payne for a candid, fast‑paced tour through his life in the tack and beyond. We trace his roots on a New Jersey farm, the mentors and tricky horses that shaped him, and the engineering mindset he’s carried from RIT to the judge’s box to the biggest arenas in the world.

Doug opens up about the pressure of Olympic selection and competing in Tokyo under COVID protocols, the partnership and reliability required of elite event horses, and why he ultimately pivoted from three‑day eventing to show jumping to better serve his family, business, and long‑term goals.

We also talk about building a program with his wife, Jessica, in North Carolina, raising two adventurous kids around a barn family, and balancing ambition with perspective. Doug shares stories from Pan Ams to Burghley near‑misses, mentorship from legends like Jimmy Wofford, flying relief missions after Hurricane Helene, and how diversified learning—from polo to piloting—keeps him sharp. It’s a masterclass in resilience, process, and partnership—with plenty of humor and heart.

Learn more about Doug Payne: https://pe3s.com

Show resources:

• 'U.S. Equestrian (USEF)': https://www.usef.org
• 'United States Pony Clubs (USPC)': https://www.ponyclub.org
• 'Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT)': https://www.rit.edu
• 'Tryon International Equestrian Center (TIEC)': https://tryon.com
• 'Tokyo 2020 Olympics – Equestrian': https://olympics.com/en/olympic-games/tokyo-2020
• 'Lima 2019 Pan American Games – Equestrian': https://www.panamsports.org/sports/equestrian/
• 'Practical Horseman': https://practicalhorsemanmag.com
• 'Duke University': https://duke.edu
• 'University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (UNC)': https://www.unc.edu
• 'Elon University': https://www.elon.edu

In this episode, I sit down with bandleader and percussionist Tito Puente Jr. for a heartfelt, high-energy conversation about carrying the torch of his father, the Mambo King, while forging his own path. 

From growing up in Spanish Harlem and falling for rock and metal, to learning clave on the road, honoring family, and choosing a more balanced life than the 300‑shows‑a‑year grind, Tito shares candid stories, lessons, and the joy of seeing new generations dance to timeless Afro‑Cuban rhythms. 

We talk about the Palladium show in Times Square, the power of community in El Barrio, pivotal influences from Celia Cruz to Iron Maiden, and why education and humility are central to his mission. 

Tito opens up about family, discipline, legacy, and his dream of a “metal mambo” project—plus the backstory of Oye Como Va and how one song can change everything. It’s a lively, deeply human look at rhythm, roots, and keeping culture alive.

• Tito Puente Jr.: @TitoPuenteJr 
• Tito Puente (The Mambo King): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tito_Puente
• Palladium Times Square (venue): https://www.palladiumtimessquare.com
• Palladium Ballroom (historic New York venue): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Palladium_Ballroom
• Spanish Harlem (El Barrio): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spanish_Harlem
• The Bronx: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Bronx
• The Juilliard School: https://www.juilliard.edu
• New York Yankees: https://www.mlb.com/yankees
• Iron Maiden: https://www.ironmaiden.com
• Mötley Crüe: https://www.motley.com
• Def Leppard: https://www.defleppard.com
• Slayer: https://www.slayer.net
• Carlos Santana: https://www.santana.com
• Oye Como Va (song): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oye_Como_Va
• Celia Cruz: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Celia_Cruz
• Willie Colón: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Willie_Col%C3%B3n
• Fania All-Stars: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fania_All-Stars
• Dizzy Gillespie: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dizzy_Gillespie
• Maynard Ferguson: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maynard_Ferguson
• Lionel Hampton: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lionel_Hampton
• Buddy Morrow: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buddy_Morrow
• Sam Ulano (drummer/teacher): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sam_Ulano
• Five Towns College: https://www.ftc.edu
• Concord (label/group): https://concord.com
• National Museum of American History (Smithsonian): https://americanhistory.si.edu
• Menudo (band): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Menudo_(band)
• Eddie Torres (The Mambo King of Dance): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eddie_Torres
• On Broadway (song): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/On_Broadway
• The Mambo Kings (film): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Mambo_Kings
• The Simpsons (TV series): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Simpsons
• Sesame Street (TV series): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sesame_Street

In this heartfelt episode, I sit down with my longtime friend Cheryl Howard, daughter of New York Yankees legend Elston “Ellie” Howard—the first Black player on the Yankees, 1963 AL MVP, and later the American League’s first Black coach. Cheryl reflects on growing up in the Yankees family section surrounded by icons like Yogi Berra, Mickey Mantle, Roger Maris, and Whitey Ford; the warmth of Old Yankee Stadium; and the deep brotherhood among players who stood together against discrimination. 

Cheryl shares intimate memories of her dad’s grace, humility, love of cooking, inventing the on-deck “donut,” and his unfulfilled dream to manage in the majors. We talk about her mother Arlene’s elegance and quiet strength, the family’s joys and losses, and Cheryl’s own vibrant career in theater and music—from national anthems at postseason games to a Josephine Baker one-woman show. We also celebrate Elston’s induction into the New York State Baseball Hall of Fame and the enduring legacy of a trailblazer whose teammates treated him like family.

Cheryl opens up about caretaking for her 90-year-old mom, cherished ties with fellow Yankees families (from Yogi and Carmen Berra to Roy White and Bill White), and memories of support from George Steinbrenner. She recalls Ellie’s service in the Korean War, the family’s stolen World Series rings (and the miraculous return of one), and the ghosts of the old Stadium that still inspire. It’s a moving portrait of resilience, love, and legacy—one that reminds us why every story truly is worth the price of admission.

In this episode, I sit down with world-renowned forensic pathologist Dr. Michael Baden to revisit the winter night in 1989 when he helped my family uncover the truth about my husband, Billy Martin's, fatal accident. 

From the injury patterns that indicated Billy was the passenger to the early use of DNA that matched hair in the windshield to the driver, Dr. Baden walks us through the science that brought closure and why careful, independent forensic work matters when stories conflict.

We also explore Dr. Baden's life and career. From growing up a Yankees fan and training at NYU-Bellevue, to leading the New York City Office of Chief Medical Examiner and consulting for the New York State Police, to re-examining the JFK and MLK assassinations, testifying around the world, and writing about reform in forensic practice. 

Along the way, he shares lessons from the autopsy room, concerns about junk science and excited delirium, and reflections on science in the COVID era.

• Robby Robinson: https://www.robbyrobinsonmusic.com/
• Robby's Records: https://robbysrecords.com/
• Sara Niemietz: https://www.saraniemietz.com/
• Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons: https://frankievallifourseasons.com/
• Jam for Jesus: https://www.robbyrobinsonmusic.com/jam-for-jesus.html

Gerry "Gentleman" Cooney was the number one-ranked heavyweight in the world when he faced Larry Holmes for the title in 1982.

In this conversation, he opens up about growing up in a turbulent home, finding purpose through boxing, and the self-sabotage that shadowed his rise. He relives the 54-second Ken Norton knockout and the epic night with Holmes, sharing what he saw in opponents' eyes and how great fighters make adjustments.

We also talk about mentoring kids, rebuilding trust, and how sobriety, family, and service anchor his life today.


Book: "Gentleman Gerry: A Contender in the Ring, a Champion in Recovery"https://www.bloomsbury.com/us/gentleman-gerry-9781538155349/


"At The Fights" with Randy Gordon & Gerry Cooney on SiriusXM https://www.siriusxm.com
Discover more conversations at worththepriceofadmission.com

Every story reminds us that a meaningful life is worth preserving.

Worth the Price of Admission brings documentary-style conversations to audio, letting you listen anywhere, while walking, driving, or taking a quiet moment for yourself. Gentle reminders of hope, courage, and human connection.

Watch full videos at worththepriceofadmission.com


In this brief introduction, I explain why we're turning our earlier documentary conversations into audio: so you can listen to these stories wherever you are—on a walk, during your commute, or whenever you need a voice of perspective and comfort.

Behind every achievement and legacy are quiet moments of kindness, courage, and connection, and this show captures those moments so you can find pieces of your own story in them.

These episodes are not nostalgia; they are reminders that hope, resilience, and human connection are still alive. Follow the podcast on your favorite player, and if you want to watch the full-length videos, visit our home for new and archived conversations.

• 'Worth the Price of Admission' Official Site: https://worththepriceofadmission.com/