Episodes
-
Send us a text
This week the Portland-based duo, Wonderly stopped by to discuss their latest album Wolves/ We also talked about the Low Bar Chorale, A new German Opera, and so much more.
********
Wolves is the culmination of a creative partnership that dates back to 2016. Brunberg and Landsverk debuted Wonderly with a self-titled 2017 collection; the unit continued with the post-pandemic release Story We Tell in 2022 and the covers collection Appropriate ’til Death in 2023. Their film scores have been featured on the soundtracks for the independent films Last Ferry, At the Video Store and other independent features, while their music has been heard as the aforementioned theme song of the New York Times’ podcast The Daily and writer Cheryl Strayed’s Dear Sugar, as well as on Brunberg’s award-winning podcast Roam Schooled.Jim Brunberg was a touring song and dance man for 12 years with the hugely successful rock/harmony/acoustic duo (and sometimes quintet) Box Set, touring with acts ranging from Dave Matthews to Huey Lewis, through the 90s. In 2000, Jim opened a recording studio, turning to the recording and composing world to satisfy his constant hunger for music. He produced and engineered dozens of records for many artists (Storm Large, Kristin Hersh, John Wesley Harding, and countless Portland-based bands) and released a few solo albums before converting the studios into a world-class music venue (Mississippi Studios). This spawned a few larger venues (Revolution Hall and Polaris Hall) where Jim personally built the stages, much of the seating and decor of a family of venues he still co-owns with his business partner Kevin Cradock.
Currently, Jim is writing and recording/producing a tragic/comic German Opera, working with some of the classical musicians he has met over the past several years (mostly Oregon Symphony players). The work, "Das Blut" is a satirical, full-fledged production, entirely in German, that takes aim at the rise of a tyrant. It is a nuanced, but completely insurgent take on empathy, power, where our demons come from, and what they eat for dinner. He plans to debut this work, along with a new batch of songs, in 2025.Ben Landsverk is an American composer, singer, and multi-instrumentalist, based in Portland, OR, whose work focuses on social change through music. Hailed as a “prominent Portland composer” (Bloomberg Magazine) and “a unique musical talent” (Willamette Week), he is best known for his work as one half of the duo Wonderly, with musical partner Jim Brunberg. An active session musician, Landsverk has worked with such musical luminaries as Father John Misty, Pink Martini, Smokey Robinson, Van Dyke Parks, Storm Large, and Ruby Friedman Orchestra. From 2003-2015, he was a collaborator and music director with avant-garde performance artist Holcombe Waller and performed at such festivals as Under The Radar (NYC), Festival de Teatro de Curitiba (Brazil), Queer Zagreb (Croatia), Brooklyn Academy of Music (NYC), and Centre Pompidou (Metz and Paris, France).
Landsverk is the founder and director of Portland’s Low Bar Chorale and of Voices Unlimited, Portland’s flagship choir for people with neurodiversity. He spent over 20 years as a professional choral director and singer, specializing in medieval, renaissance, and baroque music.
Landsverk is currently working on his first solo album, scheduled for release in early 2025.
*******
If you would like to contact the show about being a guest please email us at [email protected]
Follow us on SocSupport the show
-
Send us a text
Yarslov discusses his new book, his new book and we leap into the world of the possibility of the Mandella Effect and the Multiverse.
****
Yaroslav Barsukov is a writer of fantasy, science fiction, and everything in between.
He’s an author with a unique background in physics and software engineering, and has emerged as a distinctive voice in the realm of speculative fiction.
Born in Cold War-era Moscow and educated at the Moscow Engineering Physics Institute and Austria's Vienna University of Technology, Barsukov initially pursued a career in software engineering. His entry into the literary world was serendipitous, stemming from his involvement in game development where he translated a companion tale to a game's mythology.
This experience marked the beginning of his writing journey, and he started crafting short stories in English around 2014. Barsukov's work is celebrated for its innovative blend of fantasy and science fiction elements, diverging from the traditional hard-science SF model. His acclaimed novella "Tower of Mud and Straw" was shortlisted for the Nebula Award and received a Kirkus Star, demonstrating his prowess in weaving narratives that explore the human condition through a speculative lens.
His stories, characterized by high-fantasy filigree and physics reminiscent of alchemy, have appeared in renowned publications such as Galaxy's Edge, Nature: Futures, and StarShipSofa. Barsukov's literary influences span from Russian maestros like Leo Tolstoy to American science fiction authors, shaping his unique storytelling style that transcends genre boundaries.
His new novel Sleeping Worlds Have No Memory is available from CAEZIK SF & Fantasy.
More about the author: Website: https://www.barsukov.com/
*******
If you would like to contact the show about being a guest please email us at [email protected]
Follow us on Social Media
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/author_d.m.needom/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bettertopodcastwithdmneedom
Have a question or want to be a guest on the podcast email: [email protected]
Audio production by Rich Zei of Third Ear Audio
Intro and Outro music compliments of Fast Suzi
Upcoming guests: https://www.dmneedom.com/better-topodcast
©2024 Better To...Podcast with D. M.NeedomSupport the show
-
Missing episodes?
-
Send us a text
In this podcast episode, I sit down with author Amy Truebloog to discuss her writing career and more.
*******
Amy True, also writing as Amy Trueblood is a celebrated and award-winning author.In her latest book, “Meet Me in Ivy Falls,” she brings her formidable writing talents to the adult contemporary romance market.
Some of Amy’s awards include Award-Winning Historical Fiction: Amy True's book (writing as Amy Trueblood) Across a Broken Shore won the 2020 Gold Medal for Historical Fiction in the Independent Publisher Book Awards and the Moonbeam Children's Book Awards.
Her work has also been recognized by the American Library Association, with “Across a Broken Shore,” being named a 2020 Best Feminist Book in Children's Literature. Junior Library Guild Selections: Both “Nothing But Sky” and “Across a Broken Shore,” were selected as Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selections.
Amy grew up near Disneyland, which sparked her interest in storytelling from a young age. She graduated with a degree in journalism and has experience in advertising and entertainment. She’s an active member of the writing community, extremely active on social media, and a frequent participant at romance conventions.
Her journey to publication was not straightforward, facing challenges and rejections before successfully publishing her books. This dedication and perseverance provides an engaging talking point with audiences.
Books by Amy True: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Amy-True/author/B0CVQZVR27?ref=ap_rdr&isDramIntegrated=true&shoppingPortalEnabled=true
Books by Amy Trueblood: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Amy-Trueblood/author/B07664V7N4?ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1&qid=1723756980&sr=8-1&isDramIntegrated=true&shoppingPortalEnabled=true
*******
If you would like to contact the show about being a guest please email us at [email protected]
This episode is on YouTube:https://youtu.be/ROlH2MAqQ8E
Follow us on Social Media
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/author_d.m.needom/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bettertopodcastwithdmneedom
Have a question or want to be a guest on the podcast email: [email protected]
Have a question for our producer Rich Zei contact him at [email protected]
Intro and Outro music compliments of Fast Suzi
To see upcoming guests click here: https://www.dmneedom.com/better-topodcast
©2024 Better To...Podcast with D. M.NeedomSupport the Show.
Support the show
-
Send us a text
Wajid sits down to discuss, Reincarnation, Past Lives, Dreams, and more.
*****
Wajid Hassan was born in Pakistan and moved to England before settling in America. Wajid has lived an interesting and varied life in many fields of endeavor.From a technical background as a Field Service Engineer to a stand-up comedian with over twenty years as a union actor doing voice-over, narration, commercials as well as TV and movie roles.
He also encompasses over forty years of experience in the field of metaphysics, healing, spirituality, and new age concepts.
An avid hiker he managed to climb to the top of Mount Kilimanjaro in 2006 Africa’s highest mountain in Tanzania.
He is a humanitarian and environmentalist always looking for ways to improve life for people along with a deep love for our Planet and all the plants and animals who reside upon Her back.
As a qualified Speaker, Healer, and Teacher he can demonstrate how to reignite the spiritual flame within us and send it outwards to all, improving not only our own personal lives but those of all life streams that live on our beautiful world.
Something he outlines in detail in his #1 bestseller on Amazon,
“The Struggle for World Sanity” which will inspire and uplift those who read it.
Get your copy here.
******
If you would like to contact the show about being a guest please email us at [email protected]
This episode is on YouTube: https://youtu.be/ddXVF-RLHUY
Follow us on Social Media
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/author_d.m.needom/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bettertopodcastwithdmneedom
Have a question or want to be a guest on the podcast email: [email protected]
Have a question for our producer Rich Zei contact him at [email protected]
Intro and Outro music compliments of Fast Suzi
To see upcoming guests click here: https://www.dmneedom.com/better-topodcast
©2024 Better To...Podcast with D. M.NeedomSupport the Show.
Support the show
-
Send us a text
Long-time friend of the show, Sarah Martucci is back for our Spooky October Episode. We talk about Being an intuitive reader and medium, of course, Sasquatch, haunted items, and messages from loved ones who have crossed over.
****
Sarah's Bio: From a very young age, I have been blessed with the gift and ability to help people from all walks of life find clarity and peace. Through customized readings, I have helped men, women, mothers, friends, and many others find closure with loved ones who have passed on, and answers to questions so they can find purpose and live their truth.
You can find Sarah's Weekly Readings and her series Make-Up & Mediumship hereFollow Sarah:
Website https://sarahmartucci.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SarahMartucci11/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theofficalsarahmartucci/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/MiraInvenietis
******If you would like to contact the show about being a guest please email us at [email protected]
This episode is on YouTube:https://youtu.be/9_pbe2ESbnM
Follow us on Social Media
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/author_d.m.needom/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bettertopodcastwithdmneedom
Have a question or want to be a guest on the podcast email: [email protected]
Audio production by Rich Zei of Third Ear Audio
Intro and Outro music compliments of Fast Suzi
Upcoming guests: https://www.dmneedom.com/better-topodcast
©2024 Better To...Podcast with D. M.NeedomSupport the show
-
Send us a text
Bob and Lisa the driving force behind The BellRays stop by to talk about their musical journey, touring, and their latest album, Heavy Steady Go.
***
Bob and Lisa Kekaula made The BellRays happen in 1990 in Riverside, California but they weren’t really thinking about any of this then. They wanted to play music and they wanted it to feel good. They wanted people to WANT to get up, to NEED to get up and check out what was going on. Form an opinion. React.So they took everything they knew about; the Beatles, Stevie Wonder, the Who, the Ramones Billie Holiday, Lou Rawls, Hank Williams, the DB’s, Jimmy Reed, and Led Zeppelin (to name a very few to whom “BLUES IS THE TEACHER”) and pressed it into service.
Those bands and artists have since become “buzz words”, things to imitate and sound like. That was never The BellRays intention. The BellRays were never about coming up with a “sound”, or fitting in with a scene. It was about the energy that made all that music so irresistible. The BellRays’ influences learned from the Blues and then learned how to make it their own. The Beatles wanted to play R&B, converted that energy, and invented “Rubber Soul”. The Ramones were trying to be Del Shannon or Neil Sedaka and out came “Rocket to Russia”.
It’s an organic trail that flows through Bob and Lisa and the current rhythm section of Pablo Rodas (Lisa and the Lips, Alber Solo) on bass and Craig Waters (Countdowns, Andre Williams, Cody Chestnut) on drums, and comes out honest and urgent. You will learn and you will feel. Blues is always teaching and Punk is always preaching.
For more information go to their website: https://thebellrays.com/
****
If you would like to contact the show about being a guest please email us at [email protected]
This episode is on YouTube:https://youtu.be/19BYiRDY42E
Follow us on Social Media
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/author_d.m.needom/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bettertopodcastwithdmneedom
Have a question or want to be a guest on the podcast email: [email protected]
Audio production by Rich Zei of Third Ear Audio
Intro and Outro music compliments of Fast Suzi
Upcoming guests: https://www.dmneedom.com/better-topodcast
©2024 Better To...Podcast with D. M.NeedomSupport the show
Support the show
-
Send us a text
Cat, Jennifer, and I discuss writing, dating, our biggest moments as a writer, and more.
***
Cat Rambo has published over 250 fiction pieces, including the Nebula Award-winning novelette, Carpe Glitter, as well as nonfiction works.Since first appearing on the SF scene in 2005, Cat Rambo has published over 250 fiction pieces, including Nebula Award-winning novelette, Carpe Glitter, and nonfiction works that include Ad Astra: The SFWA 50th Anniversary Cookbook (co-edited with Fran Wilde) and writing book, Moving From Idea to Finished Draft. Their 2021 works include the fantasy novel Exiles of Tabat (Wordfire Press) and the space opera You Sexy Thing (Tor Macmillan).
Rambo has been short-listed for the World Fantasy Award, the Compton Crook Award, and the Nebula Short Story Award. A former Vice President and two-term President of the SFWA (Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America), Cat continues to volunteer with the organization as part of its mentorship program and Grievance Committee.
They founded the online school The Rambo Academy for Wayward Writers in 2010, specializing in classes aimed at genre writers, which now offers dozens of classes from some of the best writers currently working in speculative fiction.
Cat lives in Indianapolis.
Blog: https://www.kittywumpus.net/blog/
Classes: https://catrambo.teachable.com/----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Jennifer Brozek is a multi-talented, award-winning author, editor, and media tie-in writer. She is the author of the Never Let Me Sleep, and The Last Days of Salton Academy, both of which were nominated for the Bram Stoker Award. Her BattleTech tie-in novel, The Nellus Academy Incident, won a Scribe Award.
Her editing work has earned her nominations for the British Fantasy Award, the Bram Stoker Award, and the Hugo Award. She won the Australian Shadows Award for the Grants Pass anthology, co-edited with Amanda Pillar. Jennifer’s short-form work has appeared in Apex Publications, Uncanny Magazine, and in anthologies set in the worlds of Valdemar, Shadowrun, V-Wars, Masters of Orion, and Predator.
Jennifer has been a freelance author and editor for over fifteen years after leaving a high-paying tech job, and she has never been happier. She shares her husband, Jeff, with several cats and often uses him as a sounding board for her story ideas. She lives in Seattle.
Website: http://www.jenniferbrozek.com/
***
If you would like to contact the show about being a guest please email us at [email protected]
This episode is on YouTube: https://youtu.be/2jwGgrJpDas
Follow us on Social Media
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/author_d.m.needom/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bettertopodcastwithdmneedom
Have a question or want to be a guest on the podcast email: [email protected]
Have a question for our producer Rich Zei contact him at [email protected]
Intro and Outro music compliments of Fast Suzi
To see upcoming guests click here: https://www.dmneedom.com/better-topodcast
©2024 Better To...Podcast with D. M.NeedomSupport the show
-
Send us a text
Tracy Bonham sits down to discuss the highs and lows of her music career as well as the challenges in love, parenting, and her breast cancer diagnosis.
Tracy Bonham is a classically trained violinist and pianist turned alternative singer-songwriter who rose to fame in 1996 with her twice GRAMMY™nominatedalbum, The Burdens of Being Upright(Island Records). This debut album cast Bonham into the global spotlight with MTV fame and major radio airplay with her #1 alternative chart-topping song Mother Mother, an anthem for disgruntled teenagers of all ages. While so many of her songs have been placed in film and TV throughout the decades, you might have most recently heard Mother Mother in Yellow Jackets season 1 episode 2.
Over the past 27 years, Bonham’s albums and live performances have shown what it is to be an ever-evolving artist. While Bonham sings, she moves from guitar to violin, from violin to piano, and back again. When playing live, her songs from the 90s blend and blur with stylistic changes that she has created over time making her entire repertoire make sense as an entire body of work. She plays the old and new material and even though the songs span thirty years they all continue to be equally relevant. Bonham will be joined by upright bassist Rene Hart (David Amram, James Hunter) and drummer Alvester Garnett (Regina Carter, Abbey Lincoln), and with her new material she connects to something deeper than ever, her true self.
Most of the new songs are performed on the piano giving her the chance to lean back on what made her fall in love with music in the first place. Borrowing harmonic structures and beautiful melodies from her favorite classical romantic composers, Bonham stretches herself artistically to combine this rediscovered passion with her unique and quirky songwriting style to create musical alchemy. This purifying process most certainly acts as a vehicle for inner transformation for Bonham. "It's like going back to the spark I had as a very young musician, discovering the beauty of Ravel and DeBussy and reclaiming that spark and everything that has happened after that". Bonham speaks of her current line-up, "Playing with incredible jazz musicians like Rene and Alvester has opened my mind and is now giving me the support I have always needed to spread my wings and fly. I am really enjoying exploring the intersections and overlaps of where classical and jazz meet without excluding my alternative rock sensibilities. These dudes can rock too. The three of us playing together is definitely my happy place"
People Magazine: https://open.spotify.com/artist/6RaSfqo4f0b42iNouQeAKK?si=vuFrzhFYQm2Am2rigsy3JQ
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/6RaSfqo4f0b42iNouQeAKK?si=vuFrzhFYQm2Am2rigsy3JQ&nd=1&dlsi=997a4b6a968e483e
***
If you would like to contact the show about being a guest please email us at [email protected]
This episode is on YouTube: https://youtu.be/jx8FL3BQqRc
Follow us on Social Media
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/author_d.m.needom/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bettertopodcastwithdmneedom
Have a question or want to be a guest on the podcast email: [email protected]
Audio production by Rich Zei of Third Ear Audio
Intro and Outro music compliments of Fast Suzi
Upcoming guests: https://www.dmneedom.com/better-topodcast
©2024 Better To...Podcast with D. M.NeedomSupport the show
-
Send us a text
Dave and I discuss the music business, how sometimes giving up on a dream for a bit can be the best, and more.
******
LIFE OF A "LONG PLAYER"After a 25-year hiatus, long-time rocker Dave Lebental returned to his musical roots and started to investigate the modern music landscape. He quickly realized he was a modern-day Rip Van Winkle who had awoken into a different musical world than the one he left. Digital recording, digital distribution, and social media have all made it much easier to be an independent artist.
He started writing new songs on his acoustic guitar and learning how to record them in his home studio. The byproduct of these self-produced recording sessions is Dave Lebental's debut solo LP entitled “The Long Player”. The LP is a collection of 11 Americana, Blues, and Rock tracks. Now 62 years old, Lebental says his songs and sound owe a debt to James Taylor, Ryan Adams, The Eagles, Tom Petty, and The Beatles.
Band - the Driftwood Souls
Website: https://dlmusic.us/
******
If you would like to contact the show about being a guest please email us at [email protected]
This episode is on YouTube: https://youtu.be/XupS8aeNd3k
Follow us on Social Media
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/author_d.m.needom/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bettertopodcastwithdmneedom
Have a question or want to be a guest on the podcast email: [email protected]
Have a question for our producer Rich Zei contact him at [email protected]
Intro and Outro music compliments of Fast Suzi
To see upcoming guests click here: https://www.dmneedom.com/better-topodcast
©2024 Better To...Podcast with D. M.NeedomSupport the show
-
Send us a text
Chloe and I talk about Music, Dating, and more.
"Yeehaw Pop" artist Chloe Styler brings a Gold Coast glam to the Music City scene. From Australia to Nashville, Chloe now finds herself gently pushing the barriers of country music with her distinct pop-country sound and making waves internationally.2023 was epic for Chloe, having independently released her EP ‘Side B’, earning a nomination for ‘Release of the Year’ at the Gold Coast Music Awards, playing to a sold-out crowd at her headline EP Launch and showcasing her talents on a global stage. The young star illuminated the Spotlight Stage at the prestigious CMA Fest and appeared at two Sounds Australia showcases in Nashville, including debuting inside the hallowed walls of The Bluebird Café as part of Americana Fest.
Since releasing her first project in 2017, Chloe has delivered multiple alluring singles that have earned her over 270,000 streams across all platforms, nominations at the Queensland Music Awards and Gold Coast Music Awards, and finalist status in the Queensland Music Awards and Gold Coast Music Awards. Chloe has graced festival stages such as Americana Fest (USA), Big Red Bash, CMA Fest (USA), Deni Ute Muster, Falls Festival Byron Bay, Groundwater Country Music Festival, Gympie Music Muster, and more. She has supported Australian country music legends such as Lee Kernaghan, Troy Cassar-Daley, and Fanny Lumsden, as well as international 80’s pop icons Tony Hadley (ex-Spandau Ballet) and the Thompson Twins’ Tom Bailey at some of the most esteemed venues across Australia.
Chloe Styler’s music is forward-thinking and unique, and her new music pushes the boundaries that little bit further. This year will see Chloe release a slew of singles recorded at Station West Recording Studios and produced by Grammy-award-winning engineer and producer, Luke Wooten (Brad Paisley/Dierks Bentley). These tunes are set to break new and exciting international ground for this quickly rising-country star.
Website:
****
If you would like to contact the show about being a guest please email us at [email protected]
This episode is on YouTube: https://youtu.be/0xjiFF38_wI
Follow us on Social Media
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/author_d.m.needom/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bettertopodcastwithdmneedom
Have a question or want to be a guest on the podcast email: [email protected]
Have a question for our producer Rich Zei contact him at [email protected]
Intro and Outro music compliments of Fast Suzi
To see upcoming guests click here: https://www.dmneedom.com/better-topodcast
©2024 Better To...Podcast with D. M.NeedomSupport the show
-
Send us a text
Danny Saber stops by the podcast to discuss his latest release with the late Micheal Hutchence as well as his relationship with Michael. We discuss how he chose his musical path, other artists he worked with, and more.
****
In the great pantheon of musicians transcending above mere “celebrity” status, the late MICHAEL HUTCHENCE towers over most. A consummate “rock star” if there ever was one, he embodied the spirit and smoldering swagger of rock ‘n’ roll while possessing one of the most iconic voices in the contemporary music scene. So, it was with an earth-rattling shudder when tragically he passed away in 1997, leaving a mind-numbingly impressive legacy across the entertainment realm. What many didn’t know, however, is that he left some of his brilliance behind in the form of unreleased music. Producer, musician, and personal friend DANNY SABER (Madonna, Rolling Stones, U2) has completed some of these musical pieces to continue and extend Hutchence’s impact. The new single “ONE WAY” was released, April 5, 2024 via Boss Sonics.
“’One Way’ is the culmination of nearly two decades of work,” says Saber. “One of the fundamental reasons for releasing this music is to allow the fans to hear Michael’s voice on something new and fresh, offering a glimpse into what might have been, and, in turn, reawakening millions of people who may have simply forgotten about him.”
“Michael first contacted me in 1995 soon after the release of my album It’s Great When You’re Straight,” recalls Saber, referring to the UK #1 album by his band Black Grape with Happy Mondays’ Shaun Ryder. “Michael was a huge fan of my record and wanted to find the right sound for a solo record, a sound that would galvanize all the success he had with INXS and allow him to establish himself as a solo artist and spread his creative wings outside the confines of being the frontman of one of the most successful bands in the world.”
Working closely with Hutchence, the two became friends and creative partners. “Over the next two years, we became very close collaborators, and the period we worked together was one of the best times of my life,” Saber remembers. “I had just broken through with a #1 record and having Michael as a ‘big brother’ to help me navigate this was so important to me.”
Get your copy of "One-Way" here
Michael Hutchence Picture by Chris Cuffaro
Danny Saber Picture by Dear Karr
PR - REYBEE, INC
***
If you would like to contact the show about being a guest please email us at [email protected]
This episode is on YouTube: https://youtu.be/-T_3IjUIPPI
Follow us on Social Media
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/author_d.m.needom/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bettertopodcastwithdmneedom
Have a question or want to be a guest on the podcast email: [email protected]
Have a question for our producer Rich Zei contact him at [email protected]
Intro and Outro music compliments of Fast Suzi
To see upcoming guests click here: https://www.dmneedom.com/better-topodcast
©2024 Better To...Podcast with D. M.NeedomSupport the Show.
Support the show
-
Send us a text
Gearld and I discuss writing and his latest release Preacher Stalls the Second Coming, cults, and so much more.
***
Gerald Everett Jones lives in Santa Monica. He is a member of the Dramatists Guild and Women’s National Book Association, as well as a board member of the Independent Writers of Southern California (IWOSC). He is a Film Independent (FILM) Fellow. He holds a Bachelor of Arts with Honors from the College of Letters, Wesleyan University, where he studied under novelists Peter Boynton (Stone Island), F.D. Reeve (The Red Machines), and Jerzy Kosinski (The Painted Bird, Being There).”Gerald says…When I was in high school, my chemistry teacher approached me and asked with a sly grin, “You interested in mining?” I told him absolutely not. I was going to be a writer. Little did I suspect that he wanted to send me to a student conference on metallurgy where I could seek the fellowship of like-minded teens on a minimally supervised road-trip to the Big City. Undeterred by my abrupt negative response, he grumbled, “Well, you’re interested in mining your own business, aren’t you?” And he sent me anyway. Now I realize I should’ve listened more carefully to everything he said.
I write mystery-thrillers and literary fiction for adult readers who seek insight, fascination, and delight in the adventures of their own lives.
I’ve been a professional writer all my working life. I host GetPublished! Radio and I’ve been a regular book reviewer on KRLA-AM in Los Angeles. My book reviews have been syndicated by Splash Magazines Worldwide (splashmagazines.com), and I’m a top reviewer at Goodreads.com.
I studied screenwriting with John Truby and Lew Hunter (UCLA), and my screenplay Christmas Karma was honored by the WGAW Diversity Program in 2016.
In 2020 I won six book awards, and then another six in 2021, in the categories of Mystery and Literary Fiction, and one in Business. The third novel in my Evan Wycliff series will be Preacher Raises the Dead, which will deal with issues of euthanasia and near-death experience.
Website: https://geraldeverettjones.com/
****
If you would like to contact the show about being a guest please email us at [email protected]
This episode is on YouTube: https://youtu.be/So-AWiCmggE
Follow us on Social Media
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/author_d.m.needom/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bettertopodcastwithdmneedom
Have a question or want to be a guest on the podcast email: [email protected]
Have a question for our producer Rich Zei contact him at [email protected]
Intro and Outro music compliments of Fast Suzi
To see upcoming guests click here: https://www.dmneedom.com/better-topodcast
©2024 Better To...Podcast with D. M.NeedomSupport the show
-
Send us a text
Rob Marby and I discuss filmmaking and his bucket list project, The Legend of El Chupacabra.
*****
Rob Mabry was born on November 22, 1966, in San Antonio, Texas. He spent the better part of his youth in Bavaria (Germany), where his parents both worked for the US government. He developed a love of movies at an early age through countless hours spent at Sunday matinees on the tiny Air Force base in Bad Aibling, Germany where he lived. His father owned an 8mm movie camera and often enlisted his son in home movie projects. The spark was lit.Mabry spent his formative years indulging his passion for storytelling. He developed his own comic books, wrote plays for his friend’s to perform and when his dad was feeling generous; he borrowed the 8mm movie camera and experimented making movies.
In the eighties, Mabry enlisted in the US Army and joined a public affairs unit as a military journalist. While highly regarded as a writer, he found the life of a soldier to be rigid and ill-suited to his non-conformist attitude. Eventually, he and the Army would part ways.
In his twenties, Mabry pursued a career as a screenwriter. He wrote a number of spec scripts that garnered limited attention. Living in Atlanta and outside the Hollywood system, prospects were dim and he resolved to focus on a career that would support his family.
In 2017, Mabry signed up for the 48-Hour Film Project in San Antonio, a film race to write, shoot, edit and deliver a 4-7 minute short film in just two days. He would go on to compete in a dozen more “48s” and complete over twenty short films ranging in length from three to thirty minutes, but the job wasn't finished.
Although his short films were recognized in multiple film festivals, earning laurels and awards along the way, the dream of making a feature-length film still burned. Emerging from the fog of COVID, Mabry resolved to make the dream a reality and spent the next six months developing the script for his first feature film, “The Legend of El Chupacabra.” (The Movie is now available on Tubi.)
The horror-comedy was financed through crowdfunding, personal funds and support from friends and family. Filming was done mostly on the weekends in the fall of 2022 and a heavy load of post-production work and visual effects took up most of 2023. The film had its local premiere in October of 2023 and debuted on DVD/Blu-ray on May 10, 2024. The Legend of El Chupacabra will hit streaming platforms in the Summer of 2024.
Mabry believes that there is a lesson in his journey to become a feature film writer/director. He frequently shares his adage that “It is never too late to make your first movie. It is never too late to live out your dream.”
Website: https://www.chupacabramovie.com/
*****
If you would like to contact the show about being a guest please email us at [email protected]
This episode is on YouTube: https://youtu.be/-gCtLb85ceM
Follow us on Social Media
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/author_d.m.needom/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bettertopodcastwithdmneedom
Have a question or want to be a guest on the podcast email: [email protected]
Have a question for our producer Rich Zei contact him at [email protected]
Intro and Outro music compliments of Fast Suzi
To see upcoming guests click here: https://www.dmneedom.com/better-topodcast
©2024 BetSupport the show
-
Send us a text
Had a fun conversation with up-and-coming singer Malachi Gagnon talking about his blossoming career and his new music.
***
Emerging pop-country singer-songwriter Malachi Gagnon is a small-town all-American 16-year-old who found his love for singing and songwriting where many of music’s biggest stars first discover their inner artist; the church worship band. Born and raised in a small town in New Hampshire, Malachi was raised on small-town values and credits his family and their encouragement for giving him the confidence to believe in himself before he ever played his first chord. “When I was 12 I sang out loud in front of my family for the first time at an impromptu living room family talent show”. The next day Malachi’s dad took him to the music store and bought him his first Taylor guitar.
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@malachigagnonmusic
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/malachigagnonmusic/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@malachigagnon8217
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/5ypiXY7PJ0KSUk5YbaNv3t
Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/tastes
***If you would like to contact the show about being a guest please email us at [email protected]
This episode is on YouTube: https://youtu.be/zXaa3PN4wT4
Follow us on Social Media
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/author_d.m.needom/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bettertopodcastwithdmneedom
Have a question or want to be a guest on the podcast email: [email protected]
Have a question for our producer Rich Zei contact him at [email protected]
Intro and Outro music compliments of Fast Suzi
To see upcoming guests click here: https://www.dmneedom.com/better-topodcast
©2024 Better To...Podcast with D. M.NeedomSupport the show
-
Send us a text
JV and I sit down to discuss his Warminster Series and the art and craft of writing.
***
Born of steel, fire, and black wind, J.V. Hilliard was raised as a highlander in the foothills of a once-great mountain chain on the confluence of the three mighty rivers that forged his realm’s wealth and power for generations.His father, a peasant twerg, toiled away in industries of honest labor and instilled in him a work ethic that would shape his destiny. His mother, a local healer, cared for his elders and his warrior uncle, who helped to raise him during his formative years. His genius brother, whose wizardly prowess allowed him to master the art of the abacus and his own quill, trained with him for battles on fields of green and sheets of ice.
Hilliard’s earliest education took place in his warrior uncle’s tower, where he learned his first words. His uncle helped him to learn the basics of life—and, most importantly, creative writing.
Hilliard’s training and education readied him to lift a quill that would scribe the tale of the realm of Warminster, filled with brave knights, harrowing adventure, and legendary struggles. He lives in the city of silver cups, hypocycloids, and golden triangles with his wife, a ranger of the diamond. They built their castle not far into the countryside, guarded by his own two horse hounds, Thor and MacLeod, and reside there to this day. I am an epic fantasy/dark fantasy writer and author of The Last Keeper and Vorodin’s Lair, books one and two of the Warminster Saga (www.jvhilliard.com). Book three launches in July 2023 and the final book in the series launches in Q4 of 2023.
The series is also being licensed to an AR/VR video game company to be made into one of the first “melded” reality games… allowing you to play on your computer, via phone, or with your headset. I am also exploring options to turn the Realm of Warminster into a graphic novel series, with a publisher TBD.
Lastly, I am the owner of Altered Reality Magazine (alteredrealitymag.com) and help authors of speculative fiction and poetry find a portal to publication.
****
If you would like to contact the show about being a guest please email us at [email protected]
This episode is on YouTube: https://youtu.be/8AexEgOMriA
Follow us on Social Media
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/author_d.m.needom/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bettertopodcastwithdmneedom
Have a question or want to be a guest on the podcast email: [email protected]
Have a question for our producer Rich Zei contact him at [email protected]
Intro and Outro music compliments of Fast Suzi
To see upcoming guests click here: https://www.dmneedom.com/better-topodcast
©2024 Better To...Podcast with D. M.NeedomSupport the show
-
Send us a text
Singer Dariann Leigh stops by the show to talk about leaving her small town and moving to Nashville to follow her musical dream and more.
******
Dariann Leigh is infatuating; all things to all people.She is effervescent yet reserved, accessible and unobtainable, red carpet glam and camo in a tree stand. Combining big-city beauty with small-town humility, Dariann may take on many appearances, but one thing is for sure – she is resilient and wholeheartedly herself, making her a role model for the upcoming generation.
From her one-stop town in Karlstad, MN (Population 713), Dariann captured the star power of the original women of country music from lyrics bleeding through static-filled radios and scratched CDs; even in the middle of nowhere, those melodies set the scene for a dream that would ultimately define the course of her entire life. She doesn’t just want to make music, she wants to write the soundtrack for hairbrush singers, dashboard drummers, and air guitar players everywhere.
“As a kid,” says Leigh, “I remember closing my eyes, plugging my headphones in, and listening to tracks that ended up being the theme songs to my daydreams. I want to be that artist for someone else.”
She has opened for:
BIG N RICH – JOE NICHOLS
CRAIG MORGAN – CHRIS CAGLE
MATT STELL – MACKENZIE PORTER
LEAVE: (2022 SINGLE) BEST NEW SONGS ON
APPLE MUSIC COUNTRY*****
If you would like to contact the show about being a guest please email us at [email protected]
This episode is on YouTube: https://youtu.be/FYs370GpIR8
Follow us on Social Media
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/author_d.m.needom/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bettertopodcastwithdmneedom
Have a question or want to be a guest on the podcast email: [email protected]
Have a question for our producer Rich Zei contact him at [email protected]
Intro and Outro music compliments of Fast Suzi
To see upcoming guests click here: https://www.dmneedom.com/better-topodcast
©2024 Better To...Podcast with D. M.NeedomSupport the show
-
Send us a text
I had the pleasure of sitting down with Chris to discuss some of his iconic photos and the stories behind them.
******
Over the past 50 years, Chris’ signature work with a galaxy of A-List actors, models, athletes and musicians has helped them define their public image while establishing his reputation as one of the most respected photographers in the entertainment industry. Drawn to the excitement of music as a teenager growing up in Northern California, Chris began his career by shooting local rock shows for fun. He quickly graduated to headlining acts and, since moving to Los Angeles in the early 1980’s, has worked with a massive catalog of performers in the music and entertainment industry.He has shot the best of the best in the music world including ground-breaking bands like Jane’s Addiction, Pearl Jam, the Red Hot Chili Peppers and Nirvana, George Michael, Iggy Pop, No Doubt, Henry Rollins, Elvis Costello, Fiona Apple, Scott Weiland and Soundgarden. These images have regularly appeared in Rolling Stone, Spin, RayGun, Vibe, Musician as well as on the covers of more than 300 record albums and CDs.
Along with his significant commercial and editorial contributions as a music photographer, Chris’ portfolio also includes an equally impressive group of A-list actors from Johnny Depp to Dustin Hoffman, sports icons from Kobe Bryant to Wayne Gretzky, and television shows from American Idol to So You Think You Can Dance. His images have been in Entertainment Weekly, US, Stuff, Maxim, Premiere, British Elle and W.
In the last few years Chris has presented multiple exhibitions celebrating his iconic music photography. He started with Greatest Hits: Los Angeles and then followed up with GH: Martini Ranch, GH: George Michael, GH: Grunge, GH: Pearl Jam and GH: Michael Hutchence. He is currently working on his Greatest Hits documentary and expanding the exhibition worldwide.
His natural talent, versatility and tireless pursuit of artistic expression continue to grow no matter the medium. “Regardless of what I’ve been able to accomplish in the past, there are always new mountains to climb and new borders to cross,” Chris explains. “I’m excited by where I’m going and what lies ahead… by the journey as well as the destination.”
Website: https://www.chriscuffaro.com/
Photo Website: https://cuffarophoto.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thecuffarophoto/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCZ6qTnhssn2OgCKcQb9J8ww
*****
If you would like to contact the show about being a guest please email us at [email protected]
This episode is on YouTube: https://youtu.be/VZhkYCBBkko
Follow us on Social Media
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/author_d.m.needom/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bettertopodcastwithdmneedom
Have a question or want to be a guest on the podcast email: [email protected]
Have a question for our producer Rich Zei contact him at [email protected]
Intro and Outro music compliments of Fast Suzi
To see upcoming guests click here: https://www.dmneedom.com/better-topodcast
©2024 Better To...PodSupport the show
-
Send us a text
Mick sits down to discuss his latest release Ian Hunter on Track as well as his fiction book, Burning America: In The Best Interest of the Children? We also discuss the music business as well as radio.
******
Dive into the musical universe of solo Ian Hunter songs like never before with "Ian Hunter On Track"! Calling all rock aficionados and die-hard fans of Mott The Hoople's legendary frontman. This is the ultimate backstage pass you've been waiting for. Unlock the secrets behind every lyric, riff, and melody in this one-of-a-kind musical journey. From the soul-stirring anthems that defined an era to the hidden gems that eluded the spotlight, "Ian Hunter On Track" leaves no chord unheard. Immerse yourself in the evolution of a songwriter extraordinaire, as you explore the stories, inspirations, and creative genius that brought these songs to life. With a mix of anecdotes, in-depth analyses, and a touch of rockstar charisma, this book isn't just a collection of pages, it's a front-row seat to Hunter's musical legacy. Whether you've been inspired by "All The Young Dudes" since its debut, “Once Bitten Twice Shy,” “Cleveland Rocks” or you're just discovering the magic of "Defiance Part 1" this masterpiece is a must-have addition to your collection. Crank up the volume to a sonic journey through the soundtrack of your life. Dive deeply into the heart and soul of Hunter's unparalleled musical voyage.
*****
If you would like to contact the show about being a guest please email us at [email protected]
Follow us on Social Media
This episode is on YouTube:https://youtu.be/LBhW0Rq26PY
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/author_d.m.needom/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bettertopodcastwithdmneedom
Have a question or want to be a guest on the podcast email: [email protected]
Have a question for our producer Rich Zei contact him at [email protected]
Intro and Outro music compliments of Fast Suzi
To see upcoming guests click here: https://www.dmneedom.com/better-topodcast
©2024 Better To...Podcast with D. M.NeedomSupport the show
-
Send us a text
JD and I sit down and talk about music, dance, modeling, and even acting.
****
JD Reynolds is an artist in the truest sense of the word.
The world of country music is paying attention to Australian country music artist JD Reynolds. Her latest release '8 Seconds' hit the highly coveted #1 spot on Australian Country Radio during 2023 Grammy week. For a 100% independent artist, that's truly something. Just wait until the world hears her upcoming release called ‘A Little Piece of Your Heart’.
The incredible singer, songwriter, producer, and award-winning choreographer has achieved international acclaim with her fresh twist on country music. The world of Professional Bull Riding all around the globe from Australia, USA, and Canada to Brazil embraced her powerful song ‘8 Seconds’. So much so, within 24 hours of The Australian PBR announcing JD was performing LIVE at the PBR Monster Energy K Ranch Invitational, the event SOLD OUT with fans clamoring to get a ticket, some fans paid $400 for a scalpers ticket just to see JD Reynolds. It was the only PBR SOLD OUT event in 2022.
JD has graced the cover of Nashville Country Music Magazine and the glossy pages of Cowboys & Indians Magazine, being labeled “Country’s new ‘it’ girl”. For a new artist, JD has millions of combined song streams with smash hits such as 'Whatever' and 'Rebound'. JD's girl-power anthem 'WHATEVER' hit #5 on KIX Hottest 20 and #8 on the Australian Country Music Charts AND made the Hottest 50 songs of 2021. ‘Whatever’ caused such a stir that the music video premiered on Country Rebel to over 8 million viewers.
JD Reynolds creates a buzz in country music that has the likes of the biggest US media outlets such as NEWSMAX, Country Rebel, and Guitar Girl Magazine all wanting to know who the country’s new ‘it’ girl is and what inspires her fresh twist on the country which already has its own country genre, “The JD Sound”. Speaking with JD LIVE with over 3 million viewers in New York, NEWSMAX told JD she has “a lot of folk’s attention” and congratulated her on being a "major player in terms of music”. And they are spot on.
As a trained dancer and award-winning choreographer, JD needs to dance her own moves as well as sing her own words and melodies. “Dance is a part of who I am, for me, dance is an expression of the soul, expressing what words simply cannot”. The three together have been described as “cutting-edge visual poetry.”
Captivating those who hear her and mesmerizing those who see her, JD knows how to make Country sound great and look even better.
Website: https://www.jdreynoldsofficial.com
If you would like to contact the show about being a guest please email us at [email protected]
Follow us on Social Media
This episode is on YouTube: https://youtu.be/tVGIcbz7DXQ
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/author_d.m.needom/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bettertopodcastwithdmneedom
Have a question or want to be a guest on the podcast email: [email protected]
Have a question for our producer Rich Zei contact him at [email protected]
Intro and Outro music compliments of Fast Suzi
To see upcoming guests click here: https://www.dmneedom.com/better-topodcast
©2024 Better To...Podcast with D. M.NeedomSupport the show
-
Send us a text
Edward joins the show to discuss his novel, his experience in the Space Shuttle Simulator, and what would really happen if some of our fears came to light.
****
Before taking the plunge in 2004 into full-time writing, technologist turned author Edward M. Lerner spent thirty years in high tech at every level from engineer to senior vice president. Many novels later, he’s glad (and still just slightly surprised) that he leaped.He worked at such techie havens as Bell Labs, Hughes Aircraft, and Northrop Grumman—and at a long-gone start-up of which you’ve likely never heard. He delivered high-tech products and systems to government agencies (including NASA, the FBI, and the Defense Department) and commercial customers as varied as AT&T and McDonald’s. Along the way, he visited a satellite factory, flew the space shuttle training simulator, wandered about the space station trainer, and watched a space shuttle launch. Sooner or later, all that experience shows up in his fiction.
Lerner’s novels run the gamut from technothrillers like Energized (solar-power satellites), Small Miracles (medical nanotech), and Fools’ Experiments (AI) to traditional science fiction, like Dark Secret and his InterstellarNet series, to (with NY Times bestselling author Larry Niven) the space epic Fleet of Worlds series. Ed’s fiction has been nominated for Hugo, Prometheus, and Locus awards, and won the inaugural Canopus Award.
Ed’s short fiction has appeared in major science fiction magazines, anthologies, and collections. His short story “Grandpa?” became the award-winning short film “The Grandfather Paradox.”
He also writes nonfiction, most notably Trope-ing the Light Fantastic: The Science Behind the Fiction. He also teaches the occasional writing class, blogs regularly on the state of science and SF. He has spoken at, among venues, the Library of Congress and the US Naval Academy. His fiction has been translated into ten languages.
The varied career(s) didn’t just happen: Ed’s education is almost as eclectic, with degrees in physics, computer science, and business.
Lerner is a member of the Science-fiction and Fantasy Writers of America (SFWA), the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE), and SIGMA (not an acronym, and sometimes known as “The Science Fiction Think Tank”).
Lerner was born in Chicago and has lived in Illinois, New Jersey, and New York. He now resides in Virginia.
His blog, SF and Nonsense, can be found at https://blog.edwardmlerner.com/
website: https://edwardmlerner.com
*****
If you would like to contact the show about being a guest please email us at [email protected]
Follow us on Social Media
This episode is on YouTube: https://youtu.be/DHKlniUkT8g
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/author_d.m.needom/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bettertopodcastwithdmneedom
Have a question or want to be a guest on the podcast email: [email protected]
Have a question for our producer Rich Zei contact him at [email protected]
Intro and Outro music compliments of Fast Suzi
To see upcoming guests click here: https://www.dmneedom.com/better-topodcast
©2024 BeSupport the show
- Show more
